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\/ 


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WALDFRIED.  A  Novel.  Translated  by  SIMON  ADLEK 
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W  A  L  D  F  R  I  E  D 

A     NOVEL 

BY 

BERT  HOLD    AUERBACH 


7RANSLA TED 

BY 

SIMON    ADLER    STERN 


AUTHORS   EDITION 


NEW    YORK 

HENRY   HOLT   AND   COMPANY 
1874 


Entered  according  to  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  1874,  by 

HENRY    HOLT, 
In  the  Office  of  the  Librarian  of  Congress,  at  Washington. 


Maclauchlan, 

SUreotyper  and  Printer,  5«,  53  and  60  Park  Street,  New  York. 


In  compliance  with  current  copyright 
law,  U.  C.  Library  Bindery  produced 

this  replacement  volume  on  paper 

that  meets  the  ANSI  Standard  Z39.48- 

1984  to  replace  the  irreparably 

deteriorated  original. 

1994 


r  i  it>i 

s 

V 


WALDFRIED. 


BOOK    FIRST. 


i 


CHAPTER  I. 

N  a  letter  bringing  me  his  greetings  for  the  New  Year, 
1870,  my  eldest  son  thus  wrote  to  me  from  America  : 


"  We  have  been  sorely  tried  of  late.  Wolfgang,  our  only 
remaining  child,  lay  for  weeks  at  death's  door.  I  avoided 
mentioning  this  to  you  before ;  but  now  he  is  out  of  danger. 

"  '  Take  me  to  your  father  in  the  forest,'  were  the  first  dis- 
tinct words  he  uttered  after  his  illness.  He  is  a  lusty  youth, 
and  inherits  his  mother's  hardy  Westphalian  constitution. 

"  In  his  feverish  wanderings,  he  often  spoke  of  you,  and 
also  of  a  great  fire,  in  strange  phrases,  none  of  which  he  can 
now  recall. 

"  He  has  awakened  my  own  heartfelt  desire  to  return,  and 
now  we  shall  come.  We  have  fully  determined  to  leave  in 
the  spring.  I  lose  no  time  in  writing  to  you  of  this,  because 
I  feel  that  the  daily  thought  of  our  meeting  again  will  be 
fraught  with  pleasure  for  both  of  us. 

"  Ah,  if  mother  were  still  alive  !  Oh,  that  I  had  returned 
in  time  to  have  seen  her  ! 

M637773 


2  WALDFRIED. 

"  Telegraph  to  me  as  soon  as  you  receive  tidings  of  brother 
Ernst.  I  am  anxious  once  again  to  behold  Germany,  which 
is  at  last  becoming  a  real  nation.  We  who  are  out  here  in 
America  are  beginning  to  feel  proud  of  our  Fatherland. 

"  We  are  surely  coming  !  Pray  send  word  to  my  brothers 
and  sisters. 

"YOUR  SON  LUDWIG." 

The  postscript  was  as  follows  : 

"DEAR  FATHER, — I  shall  soon  be  able  to  utter  those 
dear  words  to  you  in  person. 

"YOUR  DAUGHTER  CONSTANCE." 

"DEAR  GRANDFATHER, — I  can  now  write  again,  and  my 
first  words  are  to  you.  We  shall  soon  join  you  at  '  grand- 
father's home.' 

"YOUR  GRANDSON  WOLFGANG." 
******** 

I  had  not  seen  Ludwig  since  the  summer  of  1849,  and 
now  I  was  to  see  him,  his  wife,  and  his  son.  I  instructed 
Martella  to  send  the  news  to  my .  children  and  sons-in-law  ; 
and  to  my  sister  who  lives  in  the  Hagenau  forest  I  wrote 
in  person. 

Joyous  answers  were  returned  from  every  quarter.  But 
the  happiest  of  all  was  Rothfuss,  our  head  servant.  And  well 
he  might  be,  for  no  one  had  loved  and  suffered  so  much  for 
Ludwig's  sake  as  he  had  done. 

Rothfuss  is  my  oldest  companion.  We  have  known  eacn 
other  so  long  that,  last  spring,  we  might  have  celebrated  the 
fiftieth  anniversary  of  our  first  meeting.  When  that  oc- 
curred, we  were  both  of  the  same  age — he  a  soldier  in  the 
fortjress  in  which  I  was  confined  as  a  political  prisoner.  For 
one  hour  every  day  I  was  permitted  to  leave  my  cell  for  a 
short  walk  on  the  parapet.  On  those  occasions  a  soldier 


WALDFRIED.  3 

with  loaded  musket  walked  behind  me ;  and  it  often  hap- 
pened that  this  duty  was  assigned  to  Rothfuss.  His  orders 
were  not  to  speak  to  me  ;  but  he  did  so,  nevertheless.  He 
was  constantly  muttering  to  himself  in  an  indistinct  manner. 
This  habit  of  talking  to  himself  has  clung  to  him  through 
life,  and  I  doubt  if  any  human  being  has  a  greater  fund  of 
curses  than  he. 

One  day,  while  he  was  thus  walking  behind  me,  I  heard 
him  say  quite  distinctly :  "  Now  I  know  who  you  are  !  Oh  ! " 
— and  then  came  fearful  oaths — "  O !  to  imprison  such  a 
man  !  You  are  the  son  of  the  forest-keeper  of  our  dis- 
trict !  Why,  we  are  from  the  very  same  part  of  the  coun- 
try !  I  have  often  worked  with  your  father.  He  was  a 
hard  man,  but  a  just  one  ;  a  German  of  the  old  sort." 

"  I  am  not  allowed  to  accept  money  from  you,  but  if  you 
were  to  happen  to  lose  some,  there  would  be  no  harm  in 
my  finding  it." 

"  Of  course  you  smoke  ?  I  shall  buy  a  pipe,  tobacco,  and 
a  tinder-box  for  you,  and  what  you  give  me  over  the  amount 
will  not  be  too  much  for  me." 

From  that  day,  Rothfuss  did  me  many  a  service.-  He 
knew  how  to  circumvent  the  jailer, — a  point  on  which  we 
easily  silenced  our  scruples.  Five  years  later  I  regained 
my  freedom,  and  when  I  settled  on  this  estate,  Rothfuss,  as 
if  anticipating  my  wishes,  was  at  my  side.  Since  that  time 
he  has  been  with  us  constantly,  and  has  proved  a  faithful 
servant  to  me,  as  well  as  the  favorite  of  my  children. 

I  had  inherited  the  estate  and  the  grand  house  upon  it 
from  my  father-in-law.  As  I  was  a  forester's  son,  I  found  but 
few  difficulties  in  attending  to  the  timber  land,  but  the  two 
saw-mills  and  the  farm  that  belonged  to  the  estate  gave  me 
much  trouble.  For  this  reason,  so  faithful  and  expert  an  as- 
sistant as  Rothfuss  was  doubly  welcome  to  me. 


4  WALDFRIED. 

He  is  a  wheelwright  by  trade,  and  can  attend  to  anything 
that  requires  to  be  done  about  the  house.  Near  the  shed, 
he  built  a  little  smithy,  and  rny  boys  were  his  faithful  ap- 
prentices. They  never  asked  for  toys,  for  they  were  always 
helping  him  in  making  some  article  of  use.  But  my  son 
Richard  had  no  liking  for  manual  labor.  He  was  a  dreamy 
youth,  and  at  an  early  age  manifested  a  great  love  of  study. 

Of  my  daughters,  Bertha  was  Rothfuss'  favorite.  Johanna 
avoided  him.  She  had  a  horror  of  his  oaths,  which,  after  all, 
were  not  so  seriously  meant. 

While  quite  young  she  evinced  much  religious  enthusiasm, 
and  Rothfuss  used  to  call  her  "  The  little  nun,"  at  which 
she  was  always  very  angry,  for  she  was  quite  proud  of  her 
Protestantism.  While  preparing  for  confirmation  she  even 
went  so  far  as  to  make  repeated  attempts  to  convert  both 
myself  and  my  wife. 

While  Richard  was  yet  a  mere  student  at  the  Gymnasium 
of  our  capital,  Rothfuss  dubbed  him  "  The  Professor ; "  but 
when  Ludwig  came  home  from  the  Polytechnic  School  to 
spend  his  holidays  with  us,  he  and  Rothfuss  were  inseparable 
companions.  He  taught  Rothfuss  all  of  the  students'  songs, 
and  insisted  that  this  servant  of  ours  was  the  greatest  philos- 
opher of  our  century. 

Ludwig  had  settled  in  the  chief  town  as  a  master  builder. 
He  was  also  known  as  "  The  King  of  the  Turners. "  He 
was  President  of  his  section,  and  his  great  agility  and  strength 
gained  him  many  a  prize.  He  was  of  a  proud  disposition, 
and  followed  his  convictions,  regardless  of  consequences. 
Older  persons  remarked  that  in  appearance  and  bearing  he 
was  the  very  picture  of  what  I  had  been  in  my  youth. 

I  am  glad  that  all  of  my  children  are  of  a  large  build. 
Ludwig  resembles  me  most  of  all.  Fortunately  his  nose  is 
not  so  large  as  mine,  but  more  like  the  finely  chiselled  nose 


WALDFRIED.  5 

of  his  mother.  His  eloquence,  however,  is  not  inherited. 
His  oratorical  efforts  were  powerful  and  convincing,  and  his 
voice  was  so  agreeable  that  it  was  a  pleasure  to  listen  to  it. 
He  had  very  decided  musical  talent,  but  not  enough  to  justify 
him  in  adopting  music  as  his  profession.  In  spite  of  the 
advice  of  his  music  teachers,  he  determined  on  a  more  prac- 
tical calling.  His  refined  and  easy  manner  soon  won  all 
hearts ;  and  he  was  beloved  by  those  who  were  high  in  sta- 
tion as  well  as  by  the  lowly  laborers. 

In  the  year  1849,  Ludwig  was  laying  out  a  portion  of 
the  great  road  which  was  being  built  along  the  low  land 
beyond  the  mountain.  He  was  the  idol  of  his  workmen, 
and  always  said,  "  For  me  they  will  climb  about  the  rocks 
that  are  to  be  blasted,  like  so  many  lizards,  just  because  I 
can  myself  show  them  how  it  is  done."  The  road  was  di- 
vided into  many  so-called  tasks,  each  of  which  was  assigned 
to  a  separate  group  of  workmen  who  had  agreed  to  finish  it 
by  a  certain  day.  As  one  of  these  gangs  was  unfortunate 
enough  to  chance  upon  springs  at  every  few  steps,  the  soft  soil 
gave  it  much  trouble,  and  greatly  prolonged  its  labors. 

The  other  engineers  avoided  the  soft  places  when  making 
their  surveys.  But  Luchvig,  with -his  high  boots,  stepped  right 
into  the  midst  of  the  laborers,  and  helped  those  who  were 
working  with  their  shovels  and  spades. 

He  had  also  arranged  the  fire  service  of  the  whole  valley, 
and  had  so  distinguished  himself  at  the  fire  in  the  little  town 
that  he  received  a  medal  in  recognition  of  his  having  saved 
a  life.  The  more  excited  members  of  our  political  party 
were  of  the  opinion  that  he  ought  to  refuse  it,  alleging  that 
it  was  wrong  for  him  to  receive  so  princely  a  decoration ; 
but  he  replied  :  "  For  the  present  the  Prince  is  the  represent- 
ative of  the  popular  voice."  He  accepted  the  badge,  but 
fastened  it  to  the  fireman's  banner. 


CHAPTER  II. 

I    HAD  been  elected  a  member  of  the  Frankfort  Par- 
liament. 

September's  days  of  terror  were  doubly  terrible  to  me.  I 
had  been  told  that  my  son  Ludwig  was  leading  a  body  of 
Turners  who  had  joined  the  malcontents,  and  that  they  had 
determined  to  reverse  the  decision  of  the  majority  of  the 
popular  delegates,  and  to  break  up  the  Parliament. 

At  the  imminent  peril  of  my  life,  I  climbed  from  barricade 
to  barricade,  hoping  to  be  able  to  induce  the  Turners  to  re 
treat,  and  perhaps  to  find  my  son. 

One  of  the  leaders,  who  accompanied  me  as  a  herald, 
called  out  at  the  top  of  his  voice,  "  Safe-conduct  for  the 
father  of  Ludwig  Waldfried  !  " 

My  sori's  fair  fame  was  my  best  protection  ;  but  T  could 
not  find  Ludwig. 

1  have  suffered  much,  but  those  hours  when,  with  my 
wife  and  my  next  son  Ernst,  then  six  years  old,  I  heard  the 
rattling  of  muskets  without  the  door,  were  the  most  wretched 
that  1  can  now  recollect. 

In  the  following  spring,  when  the  Parliament  was  dis- 
solved, the  revolution  had  already  begun  with  our  neighbors 
in  the  next  state. 

For  a  long  time  the  fortunes  of  battle  seemed  doubtful. 
I  never  believed  that  the  uprising  would  succeed ;  but  yet  I 
could  not  recall  my  son.  At  that  time  we  no  longer  heard 
the  rattling  of  musketry,  and  1  can  hardly  bear  to  think  of 
how  we  sat  at  home  in  sad  but  fearful  suspense.  One  thing, 
however,  I  would  not  efttce  from  my  memory.  My  wife 


WALDFRIED.  7 

said,  "We  cannot  ask  for  miracles.  When  the  hailstorm 
descends  upon  the  whole  land,  our  well-tilled  fields  must 
suffer  with  the  rest."  Oh,  that  I  could  recall  more  of  the 
sayings  of  that  wise  and  pure  hearted  being  ! 

The  uprising  had  been  quelled  ;  but  of  Ludwig  we  had 
no  tidings.  We  knew  not  whether  he  was  lost,  had  been 
taken  prisoner,  or  had  escaped  into  Switzerland. 

One  day  a  messenger  came  to  me  with  a  letter  from  my 
wife's  nephew,  who  was  the  director  of  ihe  prison  in  the  low 
country.  He  wrote  to  me  to  come  to  him  at  once,  to  bring 
Rothfuss  also,  and  not  to  omit  bringing  passports  for  both  of 
us.  He  could  tell  me  no  more  by  letter,  and  cautioned  me 
to  burn  his  epistle  as  soon  as  I  had  read  it. 

"  It  is  about  our  Ludwig  :  he  lives  !  "  said  my  wife.  The 
event  proved  that  she  was  right.  She  induced  me  to  take 
my  daughter  Bertha  with  me.  She  was  then  but  sixteen 
years  old — a  determined,  courageous  girl,  and  as  discreet 
withal  as  her  mother.  For  to  a  woman  paths  often  become 
smooth  which  to  men  present  insurmountable  obstacles. 
Bertha  was  glad  to  go ;  and  when  in  the  cool  of  the  morn- 
ing she  stood  at  the  door  ready  to  depart,  with  her  mother's 
warm  hood  on  her  head,  and  her  face  all  aglow  with  health 
and  youth,  she  said  to  me  roguishly  :  "  Father,  why  do  you 
look  at  me  so  strangely?  " 

"  Because  you  look  just  as  your  mother  did  when  she  was 
a  bride." 

Her  bright  merry  laughter  at  these  words  served  in  a 
measure  to  raise  our  depressed  spirits. 

Terror  and  excitement  reigned  on  every  hand.  When  we 
reached  the  first  village  of  the  next  state,  we  found  that  the 
side  nearest  the  river  bank  had  been  destroyed  by  artillery. 
I  learned  that  Ludwig  had  been  in  command  there,  and  had 
shown  great  bravery. 


8  WALDFRIED. 

On  the  way,  Bertha's  constant  cheerfulness  lightened  our 
sorrow.  To  know  a  child  thoroughly,  you  must  travel  with 
one  alone.  When  Bertha  saw  that  I  sat  brooding  in  silence, 
she  knew  how  to  cheer  me  up  with  her  childish  stories,  and 
by  engaging  me  in  memories  of  an  innocent  past,  to  dispel 
my  sad  thoughts.  At  that  early  day  she  gave  an  earnest  of 
what  she  was  so  well  able  to  accomplish  later  in  life. 

In  spite  of  our  having  the  proper  passports,  we  were 
everywhere  regarded  with  suspicion,  until  I  at  last  fortu- 
nately met  the  son  of  the  commandant  of  our  fortress. 
While  he  was  yet  a  lad,  and  I  a  prisoner  at  the  fortress,  I  had 
been  his  teacher,  and  he  had  remained  faithful  and  attached 
to  me.  I  met  him  at  an  outlying  village  where  he  was  sta- 
tioned with  a  portion  of  his  regiment. 

He  recognized  me  at  once,  and  exclaimed,  "  I  am  doubly 
glad  to  see  you  again.  So  you  were  not  with  the  volunteers  ? 
1  heard  your  name  mentioned  as  one  of  the  leaders."^ 

I  was  about  to  reply,  "  That  was  my  son ; "  but  Bertha 
quickly  anticipated  me,  and  said,  "That  was  not  my 
father." 


CHAPTER  III. 

AFTER  that  the  young  officer  bestowed  but  littk  atten- 
tion upon  me  ;  his  glances  were  now  all  for  Be:  tha,  to 
whom  he  addressed  most  of  his  remarks. 

Who  can  foretell  what  germs  may  awaken  into  Jife  in 
.the  midst  of  the  storm  ?  My  young  pupil,  who  had  but  the 
day  before  been  appointed  first  lieutenant,  gravely  delivered 
himself  of  the  opinion  that  there  was  no  real  military  glory 
in  conquering  volunteers.  When  speaking  of  me  to  Bertha, 
he  was  profuse  in  his  assurances  of  gratitude  and  esteem. 

Bertha,  generally  so  talkative,  was  now  silent.  The  young 
officer  procured  a  safe-conduct  for  us,  and  we  continued  on 
our  journey. 

I  have  never  yet  seen  the  ocean,  but  the  country,  as  it 
then  appeared  to  me,  awakened  impressions  similar  to  those 
which  must  be  aroused  when  the  tide  has  ebbed  and  the  ob- 
jects which  before  that  dwelt  in  the  depths  of  the  sea  p-re  left 
lying  upon  the  strand. 

At  last  we  reached  my  nephew's.  He  conducted  me  to 
his  official  residence,  where  I  followed  him  through  numer- 
ous apartments,  until  I  at  last  reached  his  room,  where  we 
were  closeted  under  lock  and  key. 

He  then  told  me  that,  while  walking  through  the  town  the 
day  but  one  before,  he  had  met  a  young  peasant  with  a  rake 
on  his  shoulder,  who,  while  passing,  had  hurriedly  said  to 
him,  "  Follow  me,  cousin  ;  I  have  something  to  tell  you." 

The  director  followed,  but  not  without  first  making  sure 
of  his  revolver. 


I0  WALDFRIED. 

When  they  had  got  into  the  thicket,  the  peasant  suddenly 
turned  about  and  said  to  him,  while  he  removed  his  hat, 
"Don't  you  know  me  ?  I  am  Ludwig  Waldfried."  The  di- 
rector's heart  was  filled  with  terror.  Ludwig  continued, 
"  You,  and  you  alone,  can  save  me.  Put  me  in  prison  until 
I  have  a  chance  to  run  away.  Our  cause  is  lost ;  but  for 
my  parents'  sake  as  well  as  my  own,  I  must  escape." 

The  cousin  was  not  unwilling  to  assist  Ludwig,  but  was  at 
a  loss  how  to  go  about  it.  Ludwig,  however,  had  studied  strat- 
egy. •  He  had  carefully  considered  every  step  in  advance,  and 
now  caused  the  director  to  enter  him  on  the  list  of  prison- 
ers under  the  name  of  Rothfuss. 

A  state  of  siege,  dissolving  as  it  does  all  forms  of  civil  pro- 
cedure, made  it  possible  to  carry  out  so  irregular  a  proceed- 
ing ;  aside  from  which  there  was  the  inspiring  effect  of  being 
engaged  in  a  task  that  required  shrewd  and  delicate  ma- 
noeuvring. It  was  this,  too,  that  helped  to  relieve  my 
meeting  with  Ludwig  of  much  of  its  sadness. 

Still  it  could  not  but  pain  me  to  find  that  in  order  to  save 
one  person  it  was  necessary  to  victimize  others.  Ludwig 
guessed  my  thoughts,  and  said  to  me,  "  I  am  sorry,  father, 
that  I  am  obliged  to  drag  you  into  this  trouble.  I  know  that 
such  affairs  are  not  to  your  taste ;  but  there  is  no  help  for 
it." 

Rothfuss  looked  upon  the  whole  affair  as  a  merry  farce. 
He  did  not  see  the  least  harm  in  outwitting  and  deceiving 
the  officers  and  the  state.  And  in  those  days  there  were 
many  thousands  who  felt  just  as  he  did.  It  is  a  fit  subject 
for  congratulation,  and  perhaps  an  evidence  of  the  inde- 
structible virtue  of  the  German  people,  that  in  spite  of  Met- 
ternich's  soul-corrupting  teachings  there  is  yet  so  much 
righteousness  left  in  our  land. 

When  Ludwig  had   donned   the   Rothfuss'  clothes,   one 


WALDFRIED.  !  i 

could  hardly  recognize  him.  The  transformation  afforded 
Rothfuss  great  delight. 

"  They  can  do  no  more  than  lock  me  up  by  myself,  and  I 
have  always  said  that  *  he  who  is  wet  to  the  skin  need  not 
dread  the  rain.' " 

This  was  a  favorite  saying  of  his.  He  had  but  one  regret, 
and  that  was  that  he  would  not  be  allowed  to  smoke  in  the 
prison ;  but,  for  Lud wig's  sake,  he  would  gladly  make  that 
sacrifice. 

We  departed,  taking  Ludwig  with  us.  My  heart  trem- 
bled with  fear.  The  knowledge  that  I  was  committing  a 
breach  of  the  law,  even  though  it  was  only  caused  by 
necessity  and  for  the  sake  of  rescuing  my  son,  filled  me 
witli  alarm.  I  felt  as  if  every  one  knew  what  I  was  doing  ; 
but  it  seemed  as  if  the  people  we  met  along  the  road  did 
not  care  to  interfere. 

Here  again  Bertha  proved  a  great  treasure  to  us.  She  had 
a  wonderfully  cheerful  flow  of  spirits;  and  perhaps,  after  all, 
women  are  greater  adepts  in  the  arts  of  self-control  and  de- 
ception than  we  are. 

When  we  arrived  near  the  borders  of  the  Palatinate,  Lud- 
wig met  a  companion  who  had  been  hiding  there.  He  was 
a  man  of  about  my  age.  It  now  became  my  turn  to  take 
part  in  the  dangerous  game.  1  was  obliged  to  remain  be- 
hind and  allow  the  fugitive  to  take  my  place  at  Bertha's  side. 
Bertha  was  equal  to  the  situation,  and  at  once  addressed  the 
stranger  as  "father." 

I  followed  on  foot,  imagining  that  every  step  would  be  my 
last. 

I  passed  the  border  without  mishap,  and  in  the  first  vil- 
lage found  the  rescued  ones  awaiting  me.  As  our  old  com- 
rade had  already  become  drunk  on  French  wine,  we  left  him 


12  WALD FRIED. 

behind  at  tl/e  village  and  took  up  our  journey  to  my  sister, 
the  wife  of  the  forester  at  Hagenau. 

The  most  difficult  task  of  all  was  to  endure  the  vainglori- 
ous boasting  of  the  Frenchmen.  My  brother-in-law  treated 
us  as  if  he  were  a  gracious  nobleman,  who  had  taken  us  un- 
der his  protection.  His  neighbors  soon  joined  the  party,  and 
proud  words  were  heard  on  every  hand  :  the  French  were 
the  great  nation — theirs  was  the  republic — their  country  the 
refuge  of  the  oppressed  and  persecuted.  And  we — what 
were  we  ?  Rent  asunder  and  bound  down,  while  our  Rhine 
provinces  were  happy  in  the  faith  that  they  would  soon  be- 
come a  portion  of  proud  and  beautiful  France.  Another 
brother-in-law,  the  pastor  of  Hunfeld,  who  had  studied  at 
Erlangen,  gave  us  some  little  consolation,  for  he  said  that 
in  science  the  Germans  were  the  greatest  of  nations. 

"  Father,"  said  Ludwig,  "  I  cannot  endure  this ;  I  shall 
not  remain  here  another  day." 

I  felt  as  he  did,  and  we  took  pur  departure  for  Strasburg. 
At  the  Gutenberg  Platz  we  were  obliged  to  halt  our  horses, 
for  the  guard  were  just  inarching  by.  All  seemed  as  happy 
if  a  piece  of  good  fortune  had  just  befallen  them.  All  was 
as  merry  as  a  wedding-feast,  while  with  our  neighbors  be- 
yond the  line  there  was  funereal  sadness. 

Strasburg  was  crowded  with  fugitives,  by  some  of  whom 
Ludwig  was  at  once  recognized.  We  went  with  a  party  of 
them  to  the  Grape  Vine  Tavern,  and  whom  should  we  meet 
at  the  door  but  the  very  comrade  we  had  left  behind. 

He  had  a  curious  contrivance  about  his  throat.  It  was  a 
simple  rope  with  a  knot  tied  in  it ;  and  he  called  out  to 
Ludwig  that  he  too  was  entitled  to  wear  this  grand  cordon. 
He  conducted  us  into  the  room  where,  at  a  table  apart  from 
the  rest,  were  seated  young  men  and  old,  all  of  whom  had 
ropes  around  their  necks. 


WALDFRIED.  l$ 

"Ah  !  here  comes  the  father  of  'the  King  of  the  Turn- 
ers ' ! "  were  the  words  with  which  a  large  and  powerfully 
built  man  welcomed  me.  I  recognized  him  as  the  man  who 
had  been  my  guide  during  the  September  riots.  "  Hurrah, 
comrades  !  Here  comes  another  companion.  This  way, 
Ludwig  ;  this  is  the  seat  of  honor.  All  who  are  seated  here 
are  under  sentence  of  death,  and  as  a  badge  we  weai  this 
rope  about  our  necks."  And  they  sang  : 

Should  princes  ask  :  "  Where's  Absalom  ?  " 

And  seek  to  learn  his  plight — 

Just  tell  them  he  is  hanging  high ; 

The  poor,  unlucky  wight. 

And  though  he's  dead,  he  hangeth  not 

From  tree,  nor  yet  from  beam. 

He  dreamt  that  he  could  Germans  free. 

And  'twas  a  fatal  dream. 

Their  ribald  jokes  disgusted  me,  and  I  was  therefore  glad 
to  chance  upon  one  who  had  been  a  fellow-member  of  the 
Frankfort  Parliament,  and  who  shared  my  feelings  at  such 
distorted  views  of  an  unsuccessful  attempt  at  revolution. 

I  have  known  many  pure-hearted,  unselfish  men,  but  never 
have  I  met  with  one  whose  love  of  freedom  was  greater  than 
that  of  our  friend  Wilhelmi.  Over  and  above  that,  he  had  a 
genuine  love  for  his  fellow-men.  There  are,  unfortunately, 
many  lovers  of.  freedom  who  are  not  lovers  of  mankind,  a 
contradiction  which  I  have  never  been  able  to  understand. 

Friend  Wilhelmi  gave  me  an  insight  as  to  the  character  of 
the  old  refugee,  who  was  by  nature  of  a  peaceable  disposi- 
tion, but,  giving  way  to  the  frenzy  which  in  those  days 
seemed  to  fill  the  very  air,  had  lost  all  self-control.  He  was 
unable  to  endure  the  sufferings  of  exile.  A  deep  longing 
for  home  preyed  upon  his  spirits.  To  drown  his  grief,  he 
indulged  in  wine,  and  the  result  of  his  copious  draughts  was 


!4  WALDFRIED. 

that  he  became  bold  and  noisy.  This  seemed  to  be  hig 
daily  experience.  In  his  sober  moments  he  sat  brooding  in 
silence,  and  was  often  seen  to  weep.  Wilhelmi  had  of  course 
painted  his  picture  in  mild  colors. 

I  must  add  that  the  refugee  at  last  died  in  a  mad-house  in 
America.  It  is  sad  to  think  of  the  many  noble  beings  who 
were  ruined  and  sacrificed  during  those  terrible  days. 

There  was  something  inspiring  in  the  words  and  thoughts 
of  Doctor  Wilhelmi.  When  I  heard  his  voice  I  felt  as  if  in 
a  temple.  And  at  this  very  moment  memory  revives  the 
impression  then  made  upon  me. 

Meanness  and  detraction  were  without  any  effect  upon- him  ; 
for  he  could  look  over  and  beyond  them.  He  had  deter- 
mined to  emigrate  to  America  with  his  wife,  who  was  his 
equal  in  courage  and  confidence.  Bertha,  who  found  but 
little  to  her  fancy  in  the  rude  and  dreary  life  that  here  en- 
vironed us,  and  who  was  especially  indignant  that  the  soldiers 
who  had  simply  done  their  duty  were  referred  to  so  con- 
temptuously, spent  most  of  her  time  in  Madame  Wilhelmi's 
room.  She  was  constantly  urging  our  speedy  return.  And 
Wilhelmi  could  endure  neither  the  mockery  of  one  class 
of  Frenchmen  nor  the  pity  of  the  others.  Ludvvig  deter- 
mined to  join  his  friend.  Wilhelmi  had  a  serious  task  with 
his  comrades,  for  nearly  all  of  them  were  firmly  convinced 
that  the  troubles  in  Germany  would  be  renewed  with  the 
morrow,  and  that  it  was  their  duty  to  remain  on  the  borders 
so  that  they  might  be  at  hand  when  needed.  Wilhelmi,  on 
the  other  hand,  warned  them  against  such  self-deception, 
which,  if  persisted  in,  would  only  lead  to  the  destruction  of 
the  mere  handful  that  was  left  of  them.  He  often  declared 
to  me  that  he  at  last  acknowledged  that  our  German  nation 
is  not  fitted  for  revolution.  It  has  too  many  genial  traits, 
and  is  devoid  of  the  passion  of  hate.  He  felt  assured  that. 


WALDFRIED.  !  5 

when  the  crisis  arrived,  the  German  monarchs  would  of 
themselves  see  that,  both  for  their  own  sakes  and  that  of 
their  people,  it  would  be  necessary  to  introduce  an  entire 
change  in  our  political  system.  But  when  and  how  this  was 
to  be  done  (whether  in  our  lifetime  or  afterwards),  who 
could  foretell? 

*'  We  should  not  forget,"  said  Wilhelmi,  "  the  significance 
of  the  fact  that  the  German  people,  so  long  bound  down  by  a 
system  of  police  espionage,  has  at  last  become  aroused  ;  nor 
will  its  oppressors  forget  it.  Now  they  are  furious  against 
the  evil-doers;  but  a  second  generation  will  not  find  so 
much  to  blame  in  their  deeds,  and,  as  you  well  know,  my 
dear  friend,  for  you  are  a  forester,  there  is  an  old  proverb 
which  tells  us  that  '  vermin  cannot  destroy  a  healthy  tree.' 
The  May  beetles  would  rather  prey  on  the  oak  than  on  any 
other  tree,  but  although  they  destroy  every  leaf,  and  cause 
the  tree  to  look  like  a  dry  broom,  it  renews  its  leaves  with 
the  following  year." 

In  olden  times  when  men  swore  eternal  friendship,  a  man 
would  sometimes  say,  "This  is  my  friend,  and  without  know- 
ing what  he  intends  to  say,  I  will  swear  that  it  is  the  truth, 
for  he  cannot  tell  a  lie."  In  my  own  heart  I  had  just  such 
faith  in  Wilhelmi. 

1  found  it  as  sad  to  part  from  him  as  from  Ludwig,  and 
this  circumstance  overshadowed  the  grief  I  felt  when  saying 
"  farewell "  to  my  son. 

"  What  does  fate  intend  by  driving  such  men  away  from 
home,  and  far  beyond  the  seas  ?  "  These  were  the  parting 
words  of  my  friend  Wilhelmi.  They  moved  me  deeply ;  but 
I  could  not  answer  his  question. 

I  felt  as  if  beholding  a  hail-storm  beating  down  a  field 
of  ripened  grain.  How  many  a  full  ear  must  have  fallen  to 
the  ground  ? 


X6  WALD  FRIED. 

I  also  met  a  young  schoolmaster  by  the  name  of  Funk. 
Although  there  had  been  no  real  reason  for  his  leaving  home, 
he  had  fled  with  the  rest.  I  easily  persuaded  him  to  return 
with  me. 

He  was  full  of  gratitude  and  submissiveness.  In  spite  of 
this,  however,  my  daughter  even  then,  with  true  foresight, 
concluded  that  he  was  deceitful.  I  was  for  a  long  while  un- 
willing to  believe  this,  but  was  at  last  forced  to  do  so< 

Funk  had  done  nothing  more  than  attend  to  some  of  the 
writing  in  the  ducal  palace  which  the  revolutionists  had 
taken  possession  of.  But  it  was  with  great  self-complacency 
that  he  spoke  of  his  having  dwelt  in  the  very  palace  which, 
during  his  student  years,  he  had  never  passed  without  a  feel- 
ing of  awe. 

I  often  thought  of  my  son,  but  quite  as  frequently  of  that 
good  old  fellow,  Rothfuss.  Ludwig  is  free,  but  how  does 
Rothfuss  endure  his  captivity?  And  as  it  was  just  harvest 
time,  it  was  doubly  inconvenient  to  be  without  him. 

We  were  bringing  home  our  early  barley.  I  had  walked 
on  ahead  and  the  loaded  wagon  was  to  follow.  I  opened  the 
barn  door,  the  wagon  approached,  and  on  it  was  seated  Roth- 
fuss, who  call  out  at  the  top  of  his  voice,  "  Here  I  am  on  a 
wagon  full  of  beer.  So  far  it  is  only  in  the  shape  of  barley. 
Hurrah  for  freedom  ! " 

As  Rothfuss  had  been  imprisoned  by  mistake,  he  was  soon 
set  at  liberty,  and  it  was  both  affecting  and  diverting  to  lis- 
ten to  his  accounts  of  his  experience  as  a  prisoner. 

He  told  us  how  good  it  is  to  be  in  jail  and  yet  innocent. 
While  he  was  there,  he  was  reminded  of  all  the  sins  he  had 
ever  committed,  and  he  at  last  began  to  believe  that  he 
deserved  to  be  locked  up. 

"By  rights,"  said  he,  "every  one  ought  to  spend  a  couple 
of  years  in  jail,  just  because  of  what  he  has  done.  When 


WALDFRIED.  if 

we  meet  a  man  who  has  just  got  out  of  prison  we  ought  to  say 
to  ourselves  :  '  Be  kind  to  him  for  it  is  mere  luck  that  you 
have  not  been  there  yourself.'  "  Thus  spoke  Rothfuss.  He 
had  thought  he  would  find  it  pleasant  to  be  sitting  in  his  cell 
while  the  other  folks  were  hard  at  work  with  the  harvest,  but  it 
had  proved  terribly  monotonous.  The  meals  were  not  to  his 
taste,  nor  could  he  enjoy  his  sleep.  He  could  not  endure 
such  idleness,  and  after  the  second  day,  he  begged  the  inspec- 
tor to  set  him  at  chopping  wood ;  a  request  which  was  not 
granted. 

And  was  not  Rothfuss  the  happiest  fellow  in  the  world, 
when  he  heard  the  news  of  Lud wig's  return  ? 

He  complained  that  it  was  rather  hard  to  know  of  a  thing 
so  long  beforehand.  Impatience  at  the  delay  would  make 
one  angry  at  every  day  that  intervened. 

When  I  consoled  him  with  the  idea  that  the  chief  part  of 
enjoyment  lies  in  anticipation,  his  face  lighted  up  with  smiles, 
and  he  said,  "  He  is  right."  When  he  praises  me,  he  always 
turns  away  from  me  as  if  talking  to  some  one  in  the  distance, 
and  as  if  determined  to  tell  the  whole  world  how  wise  I  am. 
"  He  is  perfectly  right.  It  is  just  so.  It  is  a  pleasant  thirst 
when  you  know  that  there  are  just  so  many  steps  to  the 
next  inn,  and  that  the  cooling  drink  which  is  to  wash  your 
insides  and  make  you  jolly,  lies  in  the  cellar  there,  waiting 
for  you." 

Rothfuss  had  already  started  for  the  village,  when  he  came 
running  up  the  steps  and  called  out  :  "  I  have  found  another 
nest;  the  locksmith's  Lisbeth  and  our  three  Americans  will 
be  happiest  of  all  when  they  hear  the  news.  It  is  well  to 
drink,  but  if  one  can  first  pour  out  a  joyous  cup  for  another, 
it  is  still  better.  I  shall  be  back  soon,"  he  called  out  as  he 
hurried  up  the  road. 

The  widow  of  Blum  the  locksmith  lived  in  the  back  street. 
2 


1 8  WALD FRIED. 

Her  husband  had  settled  in  the  village,  intending  to  follow 
his  trade,  and  also  to  till  a  small  piece  of  land.  Partly  by  his 
own  fault,  and  partly  through  misfortune,  he  had  not  suc- 
ceeded. 

He  then  desired  to  emigrate  to  America.  His  wife,  how- 
ever, had  been  unwilling  to  do  so  until  she  could  feel  assured 
of  their  being  able  to  get  along  in  the  new  world. 

At  home  she  had  her  own  little  house  and  her  three  chil- 
dren. For  some  time  the  locksmith  worked  at  the  factory  in 
the  neighboring  town,  returning  to  his  home  only  on  Sundays. 
His  idea  of  emigrating  had,  however,  not  been  given  up,  and 
at  last  he  departed  for  America  with  the  hope  of  mending 
his  fortunes,  and  then  sending  for  his  wife  and  children. 

When  he  arrived  there,  the  war  between  the  North  and 
the  South  was  at  its  height.  He  heard  my  son's  name  men- 
tioned as  that  of  one  of  the  leaders,  and  at  once  enlisted 
under  him.  Ludwig  was  delighted  to  have  one  at  Iris  side 
who  was  both  a  countryman  of  his  and  a  good  artilleryman. 
.  It  was  not  until  after  the  locksmith  had  enlisted  that  he 
spoke  of  his  having  left  a  family  at  home.  At  the  battle  of 
Bull  Run  he  lost  his  life,  and  his  wife  and  children,  who 
are  still  living  down  in  the  village,  are  in  regular  receipt  of 
the  pension  which  Ludwig  secured  for  them. 

When  the  widow  heard  the  news,  she  came  to.me  at  once, 
and  told  me  with  tears  in  her  eyes,  that  she  could  hardly 
await  Ludwig's  return.  She  speedily  acquainted  the  whole 
village  with  the  event  that  was  to  prove  a  festival  to  my 
household,  and  when  I  went  out  of  doors  every  one  whom 
I  met  wished  me  joy  ;  especially  happy  was  one  of  the  vil- 
lagers who  had  been  among  Ludwig's  volunteers  in  1848, 
and  was  quite  proud  of  his  having  been  able  to  lie  liinv 
self  out  of  that  scrape. 


CHAPTER  IV. 

BEFORE  I  proceed  further,  I  must  tell  you  of  Martella. 
It  were  of  course  better  if  I  could  let  her  speak  for 
herself;  for  her  voice,  though  firm,  has  an  indescribably  mel- 
low and  touching  tone,  and  seems  to  hold  the  listener  as  if 
spell-bound.  She  had  thick,  unmanageable  brown  hair,  and 
brown  eyes  in  which  there  was  hardly  any  white  to  be  seen. 
She  was  not  slender,  but  rather  short,  although  there  were 
moments  when  she  would  suddenly  seem  as  if  quite  tall. 
Her  manner  was  not  gentle,  but  rather  domineering,  as  if  she 
would  say,  "  Get  out  of  the  way  there  !  I  am  coming  ! "  In 
disposition  she  was  wayward  and  passionate,  vain  and  con- 
ceited. It  was  only  in  our  house  that  she  became  pliant 
and  yielding,  and  acquired  mild  and  modest  ways.  I  do  not 
mean  modest  in  the  current  acceptation  of  the  word  ;  she  had 
genuine  respect  for  those  who  were  higher  and  better  than 
she.  My  wife  effected  a  miraculous  change  in  her  without 
ever  attempting  to  instruct,  but  simply  by  commanding  her. 
She  was  the  betrothed  of  my  son  Ernst,  who,  as  I  have 
already  mentioned,  was  with  us  at  Frankfort  in  the  year  1848. 

It  is  difficult,  and  to  us  of  an  older  generation  perhaps 
impossible,  to  discover  what  impression  the  events  of  1848 
must  have  made  on  a  child's  mind. 

For  my  part,  I  have  learned  through  this  son,  that  failure 
on  the  part  of  the  parents  induces  in  their  offspring  a  feeling 
which  can  best  be  described  as  pity  mingled  with  a  want  of 
respect.  Like  William  Tell,  we  had  long  carried  the  arrow 
of  revolution  in  our  bosoms,  but  when  we  sent  it  forth  it 
missed  the  mark. 


2O  WALDFRIED. 

In  the  autumn  of  1848  my  wife  came  to  visit  me  at  Frank- 
fort  and  brought  Ernst  with  her. 

Old  Arndt  was  particularly  fond  of  the  lad,  and  often  took 
him  on  his  knee  and  called  him  his  "little  pine-tree."  When 
the  Regent,  on  the  day  after  his  triumphal  entry,  appeared  in 
public,  he  met  Ernst  and  kissed  him. 

During  the  summer  Ernst  attended  a  preparatory  school 
in  the  neighboring  town.  But  he  seemed  to  have  no  real 
love  for  study,  while  the  teachers  were  over-indulgent  with 
the  handsome  lad,  who  was  always  ready  with  his  bold  glances 
and  saucy  remarks. 

When  I  asked  him  what  he  intended  to  become,  he  would 
always  answer  me,  "  Chief  forester  of  the  state." 

To  my  great  horror,  I  learned  that  he  often  repeated  the 
party  cries  with  which  members  of  the  different  factions 
taunted  each  other.  I  sent  him  home  after  September,  for 
I  saw  that  his  intercourse  with  those  who  were  high  in  station 
was  making  him  haughty  and  disrespectful. 

I  am  unable  to  judge  as  to  the  proper  period  at  which  a 
youthful  mind  should  be  induced  to  interest  itself  in  political 
questions.  I  am  sure,  however,  that  if  such  participation  in 
the  affairs  of  the  country  be  chiefly  in  the  way  of  opposition, 
it  must  prove  injurious,  for  its  immediate  effect  is  to  destroy 
every  feeling  of  veneration. 

Years  passed  on,  Ernst  was  educated  at  the  house  of  my 
wife's  nephew,  who  was  a  professor  at  the  Gymnasium  at 
the  capital.  He  also  spent  much^of  his  time  with  his  sister 
Bertha,  who  had  married  Captain  Von  Carsten. 

I  must  here  remark  that  my  son-in-law,  in  spite  of  the  ob- 
stinate opposition  of  his  haughty  family,  and  the  strongly 
marked  disapproval  of  all  of  his  superiors,  up  to  the  Prince 
himself,  had  married  the  daughter  of  a  member  of  the  opposi- 
tion, and  had  become  the  brother-in-law  of  a  refugee  who  was 


WALDFRIED.  2 1 

under  sentence  of  death.     He  is  a  man  of  sterling  charac- 
ter. 

When  it  was  time  for  Ernst  to  leave  for  the  university,  or, 
as  he  had  always  desired,  to  attend  the  forester's  school,  he 
declared  quite  positively  that  it  was  his  wish  to  enter  the 
army.  He  remained  there  but  one  year.  "  The  army  of 
the  lesser  states,"  he  said,  "  is  either  mere  child's  play,  or 
else  all  the  horrors  of  civil  war  lurk  behind  it."  He  visited 
the  university  only  to  remain  there  two  terms,  after  which 
he  entered  himself  with  Hartriegel,  the  district  forester. 

Ernst's  unsteadiness  gave  us  much  concern,  and  I  was 
especially  shocked  by  the  sarcastic,  mocking  manner,  in 
which  he  spoke  of  those  objects  which  we  of  the  older  gener- 
ation held  in  reverence. 

He  was  disputatious,  and  maintained  that  it  was  one's 
duty  to  doubt  everything.  Indeed  he  did  not  even  spare  his 
parents  in  that  regard,  and  was  bold  enough  to  tell  me  and 
my  wife  which  of  our  qualities  he  most  admired. 

He  once  uttered  these  wicked  words  :  "The  present  gen- 
eration does  not  look  upon  the  fifth  commandment  as  really 
a  command :  but  I  have  a  reason  for  honoring  my  parents  ; 
and  I  am  especially  grateful  to  you,  father,  for  the  good 
constitution  I  have  inherited  from  you." 

My  hand  itched  when  I  heard  Ernst's  words ;  but  a 
glance  from  my  wife  pacified  me,  and  I  shall  forever  be 
grateful  to  her  that  I  succeeded  in  controlling  myself.  Had 
I  given  way  to  my  just  anger,  I  would  have  had  myself  to 
blame  for  Ernst's  desperate  course  and  his  lost  life.  That 
would  have  been  adding  guilt  to  misfortune,  and  would  have 
been  insupportable. 

I  had  yet  much  to  learn.  As  a  father  I  was  sadly  defi- 
cient in  many  respects.  But,  with  every  desire  to  improve 
herself,  my  wife  was  already  a  perfect  being,  and  could  there- 


22  WALDFRIED. 

fore  be  more  to  the  children  than  I  was.  I  was  disposed  to 
neglect  my  family  on  account  of  what  was  due  my  office. 
She  was  vigilant  and  severe,  and  supplied  what  was  lacking 
on  my  part.  But  although  she  was  sterner  than  I  was,  the 
children  were  more  attached  to  her  than  to  me. 

Although  Ernst's  views  of  life  gave  me  deep  concern,  he 
was  often  kind  and  affectionate  ;  for  his  good-nature  was,  at 
times,  stronger  than  his  so-called  principles. 

I  sought  consolation  in  the  thought  that  children  will 
always  see  the  world  in  a  different  light  from  that  in  which  it 
appears  to  their  parents.  Even  that  which  is  ideal  is  sub- 
ject to  constant  change,  and  we  should  therefore  be  careful 
not  to  imagine  that  the  form  which  is  pleasing  to  us,  and  to 
which  we  have  accustomed  ourselves,  will  endure  forever. 
And,  moreover,  was  it  not  our  wish  to  educate  our  children 
as  free  moral  agents,  and  was  it  not  our  duty  to  accord  full 
liberty  even  to  those  who  differed  with  us  ? 

I  have  often  seen  it  verified  that  a  perfect  development 
cannot  take  place  with  those  who,  either  through  birth  or 
adverse  circumstances,  are  deficient  in  any  important  moral 
faculty.  With  all  of  Ernst's  love  of  freedom,  he  was  en- 
tirely wanting  in  respect  or  regard  for  the  feelings  of  others. 
Piety,  in  its  widest  sense,  he  was  utterly  devoid  of.  From 
his  stand-point,  his  actions  were  perfectly  just ;  as  to  their 
effects  upon  others,  he  was  indifferent. 

On  the  Wiesenplatz  in  Frankfort,  during  the  autumn  of 
1848,  I  had  gone  through  a  heart-rending  experience.  And 
now,  after  many  years,  I  returned  to  the  same  spot  only  to 
be  reminded  of  my  former  grief  by  painful  arid  conflicting 
emotions.  I  had  gone  to  Frankfort  to  attend  the  Schiitzen- 
fest.  The  city  was  alive  with  joy  ;  a  spirit  of  unity  had  for 
the  first  time  become  manifest.  I  was  standing  close  by  the 
temple  for  the  distribution  of  the  prizes.  Although  sur- 


WALDFRIED.  03 

rounded  by  a  gay  and  laughing  crowd,  I  was  quite  absorbed 
in  my  own  reflections,  when  suddenly  a  voice  thus  addressed 
me  : 

"  Ah,  father  !  Are  you  here,  too  ?  "  I  looked  around  to 
see  who  it  was,  and  beheld  my  son  Ernst.  He  carried  his 
rifle  on  his  shoulder,  and  the  rewards  for  his  well-aimed 
shots  were  fastened  under  the  green  ribbon  of  his  hat.  Be- 
fore I  could  get  a  chance  to  congratulate  him,  he  had  said  to 
me,  "  Father,  you  should  not  have  come  ;  I  am  sorry  that  I 
meet  you  here." 

"  Why  so  ?  " 

"  Why  !  Because  this  is  for  us  young  lads.  We  are  here 
for  the  purpose  of  gaining  prize-goblets  by  our  lucky  shots ; 
and  the  great  speeches  that  are  being  held  in  yonder  hall 
are  nothing  more  than  a  mere  flash  in  the  pan.  They  are 
trying  to  persuade  each  other  that  they  are  all  heroes 
and  willing  to  bear  arms  for  their  Fatherland,  and  their  talk 
is,  after  all,  a  mefe  sham.  The  good  marksmen  have  not 
come  here  for  the  sake  of  their  Fatherland  and  such  stuff : 
all  they  desire  is  simply  to  gain  the  prize — that,  and  nothing 
more." 

"  Do  you  not  know  that  I,  too,  made  a  speech  in  there 
yesterday  ?  " 

"  No.  I  was  informed  that  some  one  named  Waldfried 
had  been  speaking ;  but  I  could  not  imagine  it  was  you. 
One  should  have  nothing  to  do  with  such  inflammable 
thoughts  when  fire-arms  are  at  hand.  If  we  were  to  govern 
ourselves  by  your  speeches,  our  brotherly-feeling  would  very 
soon  be  at  an  end,  and  there  would  be  naught  but  violence 
and  murder  among  us  riflemen." 

I  tried  to  explain  to  him  that  our  hope  lay  in  our  able- 
bodied  youth,  and  that  we  would  not  rest  content  until  we 
had  a  real,  united  Fatherland.  To  which  he  answered: 


24  WALDFRIED. 

"Ah,  yes.  The  students,  those  of  brother  Richard's  sort, 
live  on  yesterday  :  the  politicians  live  on  to-morrow :  we 
live  in  the  present." 

His  features  trembled,  and  it  was  with  an  effort  that  he 
added,  "Forgive  me,  father;  perhaps  I,  too,  will  have  as 
much  confidence  in  mankind  as  you  have,  when  I  am  as 
old  as  you  are." 

What  could  I  answer  to  this  ?  While  all  about  me  was 
loud  with  joy,  my  soul  was  filled  with  sorrow.  My  youngest 
son  denied  the  gods  to  whom  I  offered  up  my  prayers. 

And  yet,  when  I  saw  him  among  a  group  of  riflemen,  my 
fatherly  pride  was  aroused.  His  proud,  lithe  form  towered 
above  the  rest.  New-comers  saluted  him,  and  the  eyes  of 
all  seemed  to  rest  upon  Ernst  with  serene  satisfaction. 


CHAPTER  V.      . 

ONE  day  Ernst  visited  us  and  went  about  for  a  long  while 
in  silence, — now  going  out  to  Rothfuss  in  the  stable, 
and  then  again  joining  us  in  the  room  ;  but  here  again  he  ut- 
tered no  word.  Although  I  could  see  that  he  was  agitated, 
I  did  not  ask  him  the  reason.  I  had  been  obliged  to  accus- 
tom myself  to  allow  him  to  speak  when  it  suited  him,  and  to 
avoid  any  advances  on  my  part  until  it  pleased  him  to  seek 
them. 

We  were  just  about  to  rise  from  the  dinner-table  when  he 
said  to  us  in  a  hurried  manner,  "  Before  you  hear  it  from 
others,  I  must  announce  it  to  you  myself: — I  am  engaged 
to  be  married." 

We  looked  at  each  other  in  silence.  Not  a  sound  was 
heard,  save  the  ticking  of  the  two  Black  Forest  clocks  in 
our  room.  At  last  my  wife  asked  :  "  And  with  whom  ?  " 

I  could  tell  by  the  tone  of  her  voice  how  many  heavy 
thoughts  had  preceded  these  words. 

"  With  a  healthy  girl.  I — I  know  all  about  selection  in 
breeding,"  answered  Ernst,  while  he  lit  his  cigar. 

I  reprimanded  him  severely  for  his  tone.  Without  chang- 
ing a  feature,  he  allowed  me  to  finish  my  remarks.  After 
that  he  arose,  threw  his  rifle  over  his  shoulder,  put  on  his 
green  hat,  and  left  the  house.  I  wanted  to  call  him  back, 
but  my  wife  prevented  me.  I  reproached  myself  for  the 
violent  manner  in  which  I  had  spoken  to  him.  Now  he  will 
rush  into  misfortune — who  knows  what  he  may  do  next? 
With- mild  words,  I  might  have  been  able  to  direct  him  on 


2(5  WALDFRIED. 

the  right  path;  but  now  he  may,  perhaps,  not  return,  and 
will  even  persuade  himself  to  hate  me. 

My  wife  consoled  me  with  the  words  :  "  He  will  return 
oefore  nightfall." 

And  it  was  so.  In  the  evening  he  returned,  and  address- 
ing me  with  a  voice  full  of  emotion,  said :  "  Father,  forgive 
me ! " 

Rothfuss  was  in  the  room  at  the  time,  and  I  beckoned 
to  him  to  leave  ;  but  Ernst  requested  that  he  should  remain, 
and  continued : 

"  I  have  done  wrong.  I  am  heartily  sorry  for  it.  I  have 
also  done  wrong  to  Martella.  I  should  not  have  acted  as  I 
have  done,  but  ought  to  have  brought  her  to  you  first  of  all. 
She  deserves  quite  different  treatment — better  indeed  than  I 
do.  I  beg  of  you,  give  back  the  words  that  I  uttered  !  For- 
give me  !  and,  above  all  things,  do  not  make  Martella  suffer 
for  what  I  have  said." 

He  uttered  these  words  with  a  trembling  voice.  Roth- 
fuss  had  left  the  room.  I  held  out  my  hand  to  Ernst,  and 
he  continued  firmly : 

"  You  have  so  often  told  me,  and  as  I  am  always  forget- 
ting it,  you  will  have  to  tell  it  to  me  many  a  time  again,  that 
there  is  something  in  me  which  causes  me  at  times  to 
express  myself  quite  differently  from  the  way  in  which  I  ini 
tended  to.  I  also  know,  dear  father,  that  such  a  word  lin- 
gers in  your  memory  like  a  smouldering  spark,  especially 
when  the  word  is  uttered  by  your  own  child ;  and  that  in 
your  grief  you  picture  to  yourself  the  utter  ruin  of  a  charac- 
ter that  can  indulge  in  such  expressions.  I  understand  you, 
do  I  not  ?  Trust  in  me  :  I  am  not  so  bad,  after  all. 

"  I  do  not  believe  in  the  possessed ;  and  yet  there  must 
be  something  of  that  kind.  Enough  on  that  point,  however. 
Though  I  seemed  cheerful,  I  had  a  heavy  heart ;  but  now 


WALDFRIED.  27 

I  am  one  of  the  happiest  beings  alive;  and  if  I  weie 
obliged  to  be  a  wood-cutter  for  the  rest  of  my  days,  I  could 
still  content  myself.  O  mother,  I  would  not  have  believed 
that  I  could  have  found  such  a  creature  in  a  world  in  which 
all  others  are  mere  pretence  and  rouge,  lies  and  deceit. 

"  She  is  in  perfect  health,  and  as  pure  and  as  fresh  as  a  dew- 
drop.  Although  she  has  learned  nothing,  she  knows  every- 
thing. She  cannot  couch  it  in  words,  but  her  eyes  speak  it. 
Her  heart  is  so  thoroughly  good, — so  strong, — so  pure, — 
indeed,  I  cannot  find  the  right  word  for  it.  She  has  no 
parents,  no  brothers  or  sisters.  She  is  a  child  of  the  woods, 
and  as  pure  and  as  holy  as  the  primeval  forest  itself. 

"  O,  forgive  me  all !  I  cannot  describe  my  emotions. 
Now  I  understand  and  believe  everything.  They  tell  us  that 
in  the  olden  time,  a  Prince  once  lost  his  way  while  hunting 
in  the  forest,  and  that  he  found  a  maiden  whom  he  placed  upon 
his  horse  and  led  to  his  castle  and  then  made  her  his  queen. 
Those  stories  are  all  true.  I  cannot  make  a  queen  of  Mar- 
tella,  but  through  her  I  am  ennobled ;  and  it  grieves  me  that 
it  will  not  do  to  have  our  wedding  at  once.  But  I  will  wait. 
I  can  wait.  Or,  if  you  like  it  better,  we  will  wander  forth  to 
America,  and,  far  from  the  world,  shall  live  there  as  our  first 
parents  did  in  Paradise.  Believe  me,  there  is  indeed  a  par- 
adise. 

"  O  mother  !  You  are  certainly  all  that  a  human  being 
can  be,  but  still  you  have  one  fault ; — yes,  yes  ;  you  have 
wept — and  the  first  commandment  should  be,  '  Man,  thou 
shalt  not  weep.'  And,  just  think  of  it,  mother,  Martella  has 
never  yet  wept !  She  is  as  healthy  as  a  doe,  and  I  swear  it 
to  you,  she  shall  never  know  what  it  is  to  weep.  O  mother! 
O  father !  in  the  depths  of  the  forest  I  have  found  this  pure, 
innocent  child,  so  wise  and  clever,  so  strong  and  brave. 
This  flower  has  blossomed  in  the  hidden  depths  of  the 


28  WALDFRIED. 

forest ;  no  human  eye  had  ever  seen  her  before.  I  am  not 
worthy  of  her,  but  I  will  try  to  become  so." 

His  voice  became  thick.  He  beat  his  breast  with  both 
hands,  and  drew  a  long  deep  breath.  I  have  never  yet  seen 
a  being  so  refulgent  with  happiness.  Thus,  in  the  olden 
time,  must  they  have  looked  who  thought  they  were  behold- 
ing a  miracle ;  and  even  now,  when  I  write  of  these  things, 
feeble  as  my  words  seem,  I  tremble  with  emotion. 

And  could  this  be  my  child,  my  son,  my  madcap,  who 
now  felt  so  humble  and  contrite.  I  had  lost  all  memory  of 
his  former  rudeness  and  sarcasm.  It  was  some  time  before 
we  could  answer  his  words.  * 

The  sun  was  going  down  in  the  west,  its  last  broad  rays 
fell  into  the  room,  shedding  a  glow  of  light  over  all,  and  as 
we  sat  we  heard  the  evening  chimes. 


CHAPTER  VI. 

"  T  BELIEVE  in  your  love,"  said  my  wife  at  last. 

L  "O  mother ! "  cried  Ernst,  throwing  himself  at  her 
feet ;  and  then  kissing  her  hands,  he  wept  and  sobbed  while 
he  rested  his  head  on  her  knee. 

I  lifted  him  up  and  said,  "We  are  independent  enough  not 
to  ask  where  our  daughter-in-law  comes  from,  so  that  she  be 
but  good  and  will  make  our  child  happy." 

Ernst  grasped  both  of  my  hands  and  said,  "  I  knew  it.  I 
do  not  deserve  your  love,  but  now  I  shall  try  to  be  worthy 
of  it." 

"But  where  have  you  been  since  dinner-time?"  said  my 
wife,  trying  to  change  the  conversation. 

Ernst  replied  that  he  had  left  the  road  and  had  wandered 
far  into  the  forest,  where  he  had  lain  down  and  fallen  asleep  ; 
and  that  within  him  two  sorts  of  spirits  had  been  battling. 
The  spiteful  spirit  had  urged  him  not  to  take  back  the  rude 
words,  and  desired  him,  without  heeding  father  or  mother,  to 
wander  forth  into  the  wide  world  with  his  Martella ;  she  would 
follow  him  wherever  he  led. 

The  humble  spirit  had,  however,  warned  him  to  return  and 
undo  the  harm  he  had  done.  The  conflict  had  been  a  long 
one.  At  last  he  rose  to  his  feet  and  ran  home  as  if  sent  by  a 
messenger  of  happiness. 

My  wife  listened  attentively,  and  regarded  him  with  that 
glance  of  hers  which  seemed  to  penetrate  the  deepest  re- 
cesses of  the  soul.  No  other  being  can  listen  so  attentively 
as  she  could,  and  no  glance  is  as  soothing  as  hers  was.  She 


go  WALDFRIED. 

would  not  attempt  to  assist  you  when  at  a  loss  for  words,  or 
by  her  manner  imply  that  she  knew  what  you  meant.  She 
patiently  permitted  you  to  explain  yourself,  to  stop  or  to 
continue ;  and  when  she  was  listening,  you  could  not  but 
feel  wiser  than  you  really  were.  Her  glance  illumined  your 
very  soul. 

When  Ernst  had  finished  she  said  to  him :  "  You  are  on 
the  right  path  at  last.  I  know  that  you  think  you  have  al- 
ready reached  the  goal,  and  that  all  is  done.  But,  believe  me, 
and  do  not  forget  what  I  now  tell  you, — the  spiteful  spirit 
will  return  again ;  now  he  only  feigns  death.  But  rest  content, 
for  from  this  day  you  will  be  his  master.  I  see  this  as  clearly 
as  I  see  your  very  eyes.  The  best  possession  in  the  world 
is  now  yours — pure,  righteous  love.  Yes,  you  may  well 
laugh,  for  now  it  is  your  goodness  that  laughs." 

Rothfuss  came  to  tell  me  that  the  Alsatian  cattle-dealer 
who  wanted  to  purchase  our  fat  oxen,  wished  to  see  me.  I 
was  about  to  send  word  to  him  to  wait  or  to  come  some  other 
time,  but  I  understood  my  wife's  glance,  which  told  me  that 
I  had  better  leave  her  alone  with  Ernst. 

I  left  the  room,  and,  while  going,  I  heard  her  say,  "  Ernst, 
you  must  now  eat  and  drink  something ;  such  emotions  as  you 
have  felt  awaken  hunger  and  thirst." 

When  I  returned,  Ernst  sat  at  the  table  eating  his  supper. 
He  called  out  to  me,  "  Father,  mother  has  arranged  every- 
thing nicely,  and  if  you  are  satisfied,  why — " 

"  Eat  now,  and  let  me  speak,"  said  my  wife.  And  then 
she  continued : 

"  From  all  that  Ernst  has  told  me — and  we  depend  upon 
his  truthfulness — I  am  convinced  that  Martella  is  a  real  treas- 
ure-trove. No  one  but  such  a  girl  could  banish  this  spirit  of 
unrest.  We  are,  thank  God,  so  circumstanced  that  besides  a 
good  family  name  we  can  also  bestow  worldly  goods  upon  our 


WALD FRIED.  m  3! 

children.  Ernst  and  his  bride*  are  both  young  and  can  work 
for  themselves.  He  loves  in  her  the  child  of  nature ;  but 
he  understands  that  there  is  much  of  good  which  she  can 
and  must  yet  take  up  into  this  pure  nature  of  hers.  He 
used  to  say  that  he  could  never  be  happy  except  with  a 
woman  who  sang  beautifully,  but  now  he  no  longer  finds 
singing  a  necessity.  But  he  cannot  do  without  spiritual 
sympathy  and  harmony  in  his  higher  life.  She  need  not 
learn  French ;  I  have  forgotten  what  I  once  knew  of  it. 
But  Ernst  is  accustomed  to  a  refined  home  ;  and  when  he 
goes  home  to  his  wife  in  his  forest  house,  he  should  be  able 
to  find  refreshment  and  rest  in  noble  and  elevating  thoughts. 

"  If  a  forester  is  denied  the  proper  delights  of  home  and 
married  life,  there  is  nothing  left  him  but  the  pleasures  of 
the  tavern  ;  and  they  will  certainly  ruin  him. 

"  Martella  must  not  be  confused  or  taught  in  school-girl 
fashion.  That  which  is  noble  and  refined  in  life  cannot  be 
imparted  by  precept  or  command.  It  must  become  a  ne- 
cessity to  her,  just  as  it  has  become  to  our  own  son,  and 
not  until  then  can  they  both  be  happy. 

"  Neither  will  the  world  be  satisfied  with  mere  nature  and 
forest  manners.  Does  it  not  seem  the  very  thing  that  she 
of  her  own  accord  has  said  to  Ernst,  '  Let  me  spend  a  year 
as  a  servant  to  your  sister,  the  captain's  wife,  or  what  would 
be  still  better,  with  your  mother,  and  then  come  for  me  ? 
If  you  do  not  object,  I  think  we  had  better  do  this.  Early 
to-morrow  morning  I  shall  drive  over  into  the  valley  with 
Ernst,  and  in  the  evening  I  shall  return  with  Martella,  who 
will  remain  with  us  until  all  is  arranged  and  she  has  become 
used  to  our  ways  and  customs,  so  that  Ernst  may  live  hap- 

*  Throughout,  the  translator  will,  according  to  the  German  custom, 
use  the  word  "  bride  "  to  designate  a  woman  who  is  only  betrothed. 


32  .  WALD FRIED. 

pily  with  her,  not  only  in  his  youth,  but  until  his  eighty-third 
year — for  my  father  lived  to  that  age." 

I  do  not  know  which  to  admire  most  in  my  wife — her 
shrewdness  or  her  kindness.  She  always  had  the  right  word 
at  the  right  time. 

I,  of  course,  approved  of  her  plan,  and  on  the  morrow 
she  started  off  with  Ernst  in  the  wagon.  Rothfuss  drove 
the  two  bays. 

Towards  evening,  I  walked  down  the  road  to  meet  them 
on  their  return. 

The  sun  was  going  down  behind  the  Vosges  Mountains. 
The  rosy  sunset  shed  its  glow  over  the  rocks  and  the  waters 
of  the  brook. 

The  Englishman  stood  at  the  bank  angling.  He  never 
saluted  those  whom  he  met,  but  lived  entirely  for  himself. 
Every  year,  as  soon  as  the  snows  began  to  melt,  he  came 
to  our  valley,  and  remained  until  the  winter  returned.  He 
dwelt  with  Lerz  the  baker,  and  was  always  fishing  up  and 
down  the  valley.  He  gathered  up  his  complicated  fishing- 
tackle  and  departed,  followed  by  a  day  laborer  carrying  a 
fish  basket. 


CHAPTER  VII. 

I  WAITED  down  by  the  village  saw -mill,  where  they 
already  knew  that  Ernst's  bride  was  coming  to  live  with 
us.  With  all  his  gentleness  and  candor,  Ernst  had  announced 
this  in  order  that  we  should  be  bound  by  it.  I  met  Rauten- 
kron  the  forester,  who  was  known  in  the  whole  neighborhood 
as  "The  wild  huntsman." 

He  was  the  best  of  shots,  and  could  endure  no  living  ob- 
ject. The  people  thought  he  merely  avoided  men,  but  I  knew 
that  he  hated  them.  He  always  considered  it  a  piece  of  good 
fortune  when  he  heard  bad  news  of  any  one.  He  lived  in 
solitude,  for  whenever  he  had  been  seduced  into  helping  some 
one  he  had  always  repented  of  it  afterward.  A  ball  had 
once  passed  through  his  hat,  and,  during  the  examination, 
the  magistrate  had  said  to  the  officer,  "  If  he  should  ever  be 
killed  by  a  shot,  you  had  better  examine  the  whole  village, 
for  we  shall  all  have  had  a  share  in  it."  He  lived  strictly 
within  the  law,  however.  He  did  not  want  to  be  beloved  : 
it  was  his  boast  that  every  one  could  say,  "  He  is  severe, 
but  just."  He  had  no  consideration  either  for  rich  or  poor. 

He  was  in  the  vigor  of  life,  with  a  gray  beard,  aquiline 
nose,  and  wondrously  clear  liquid  blue  eyes,  of  a  piercing 
brilliancy. 

He  came  up  to  me  with  a  friendly  air,  that  was  quite  un- 
usual on  his  part,  and  told  me  that  Ernst  had  been  with  him 
that  day. 

Ernst  had  said  nothing  to  me  of  this.  Rautenkron  de- 
clared that  he  did  not  concern  himself  about  other  people, 
but  that  he  was  really  sorry  that  Ernst  was  about  to  throw 
3 


34  WALDFRIED. 

himself  away.  Here  was  another  young  man  who  was  fit  for 
heroic  deeds,  but  was  ruined  in  this  good-for-nothing  age, 
and  was  about  to  sacrifice  his  life  to  a  coquettish  forest  girl. 
It  was  unpardonable  that  we  should  countenance  him  in  this, 
and  consent  to  take  a  creature  from  out  of  the  thicket  into  a 
house  which  had  always  borne  so  honorable  a  name. 

"  Mark  my  words !  She  will  be  just  like  a  young  fox  that 
is  caught  before  he  has  finished  his  growth, — he  will  never 
be  perfectly  tamed,  but  will  run  away  to  his  home  when  you 
least  expect  it,  and  be  right  in  doing  so." 

It  is  always  galling  to  hear  pure  affection  thus  abused  and 
misconstrued. 

I  endeavored  to  change  the  subject,  but  Rautenkron  af- 
fected not  to  hear  me,  and  indulged  in  the  most  violent  lan- 
guage against  the  stranger.  Indeed,  he  prophesied  that  our 
thoughtless  conduct  would  drag  us  into  misfortune,  and  called 
the  miller  to  bear  witness  to  what  he  thus  told  me. 

I  abruptly  refused  to  continue  the  subject,  and  now  Rau- 
tenkron called  out  to  me,  his  eyes  beaming  with  joy,  "  Enough. 
Let  us  speak  of  something  else.  I  have  to-day  done 
one  of  the  prettiest  deeds  of  my  life.  Shall  I  tell  you  what  ? 
All  right !  You  know  Wollkopf  the  wood  dealer.  He  has 
such  a  mild,  insinuating  way  about  him,  but  always  eyed  me 
as  the  usurer  does  a  suspicious-looking  pledge.  He  did  not 
trust  me.  'But,'  thought  I  to  myself,  'just  wait!  I  will 
bide  my  time ;  he  will  come  yet.'  And  he  has  come  at  last, 
within  shooting  distance  too.  At  the  last  sale  of  wood  in  my 
district,  he  had  bought  a  large  lot  of  logs,  and  then  came  up  to 
me  and  said  that  he  wanted  to  speak  plain  German  with  me. 
Now  listen  to  what  the  honored  town-councillor — you  know 
that  is  his  position — the  acknowledged  man  of  honor,  calls 
plain  speaking !  He  offered  me  a  bribe  if  I  would  keep  such 
and  such  logs  out  of  his  lot.  Of  course  I  agreed.  Smoking 


WALDFRIED.  35 

our  cigars,  we  went  on  \valkingthrough  the  woods.  I  quickly 
cut  down  an  oak  sapling,  pulled  the  branches  from  it,  and  with 
the  green  wood  beat  the  lean  man  of  honor  to  my  heart's 
content  He  cried  out  with  all  his  might,  but  no  one  heard 
him  save  the  cuckoo,  and  I  enjoyed  beating  him  until  he  was 
black  and  blue ;  just  as  the  cuckoo  enjoys  swallowing  the 
caterpillar  which  poisons  the  fingers  of  your  soft-skinned 
gentry.  I  tell  you  there  is  no  greater  pleasure  than  admin- 
istering personal  chastisement  to  a  sharper.  Men  say  that 
the  kiss  of  the  beloved  one  is  good  ;  perhaps  it  is,  but  this  is 
better. 

"And  when  I  was  satisfied,  and  he  too,  I  suppose,  had 
enough,  I  let  him  run,  and  said  to  him,  'Now,  my  sweet 
gentleman,  you  may  sue  me  if  you  choose;  but,  if  you  do,  it 
will  be  my  turn  to  tell  my  story.'  " 

AVhile  Rautenkron  told  his  story,  his  features  acquired  an 
uncanny  expression  of  glee.  I  must  admit  that  I  did  not  be- 
grudge the  sharper  the  beating  he  had  received  ;  and  besides 
that,  the  recital  had  engaged  my  attention,  and  thus  had  re- 
lieved me  from  the  sad  thoughts  which  had  before  that  filled 
my  mind. 

It  was  already  dusk  when  the  wagon  arrived.  It  halted. 
My  wife  said  to  the  girl  who  was  sitting  at  her  side,  "  This 
is  father.  Speak  to  him." 

"  I  hope  you  are  well,  father  !  "  exclaimed  the  girl. 

I  heard  Rautenkron  beside  me  muttering  angrily.  His 
words,  however,  were  unintelligible.  Without  saying  more 
he  hurried  off  into  the  forest. 

"  What  ails  the  misanthrope  now  ?  "  said  my  wife.  "  But 
why  need  that  trouble  us  ?  My  child,  you  had  better  get 
out  here  and  follow  with  father." 

I  helped  the  child  to  alight.     She  seemed  loth  to  obey. 


CHAPTER   VIII. 

I  WAS  obliged  to  halt.  I  felt  as  if  trying  to  drag  a 
heavily  laden  wagon  up  the  hill. 

But  let  me  proceed.  I  have  many  a  steep  path  yet  to 
climb. 

I  stood  with  the  girl  on  the  highway.  I  extended  my 
hand  and  uttered  a  few  words  of  welcome,  but  they  did  not 
come  from  the  heart.  Our  wayward  son  had  imposed  a 
great  burden  on  us.  The  young  maiden  appeared  to  pay 
no  attention  to  what  I  was  saying,  but -looked  about  in  every 
direction.  As  it  was  dusk,  I  could  not  see  her  distinctly. 
I  could  perceive,  however,  that  she  was  a  powerful  creature. 
She  did  not  regulate  her  step  by  mine,  but  I  was  forced  to 
keep  step  with  her  unless  I  wished  to  be  left  behind. 

"  What  dog  is  this  running  after  us  ?  "  said  I. 

"  It  is  my  dog.  Isn't  it  so,  Pincher  ?  Aren't  you  my 
dog?" 

The  dog  answered  with  a  bark,  and  kept  running  back  and 
forth,  now  up  the  road  and  now  down.  When  she  whistled 
to  him,  in  huntsman's  style,  he  obeyed. 

"Master,"  asked  she,  without  resting  a  moment  while 
speaking,  "and  does  all  as  far  as  the  eye  can  reach  belong 
to  you  ?  " 

"  Why  do  you  inquire  ?  " 

"  Why  ?  because  I  want  to  know.  It  must  be  jolly  here 
in  the  daytime." 

"  Indeed  it  is." 

"  Is  that  the  graveyard  where  I  see  the  crosses  and  the 
white  stones  ?  " 


WALDFRIED.  37 

"  Yes." 

"  Can  it  be  seen  from  your  house  ?  " 

"  It  can." 

"  Too  bad  !  that  will  never  do.  I  can't  beaf  to  look  out  of 
the  window.  I  can't  stay  there,  I  won't  stay ;  you  must 
take  away  that  graveyard ;  how  can  one  laugh  or  sing  with 
that  constantly  before  one's  eyes  ?  Or  how  could  I  eat  or 
drink  ?  I  once  found  a  dead  man  in  the  forest.  He  had 
been  lying  there  ever  so  long,  and  was  quite  eaten  away.  I 
can't  bear  to  have  Death  always  staring  me  in  the  face.  I 
won't  stay  here." 

I  was  obliged  to  stop.  I  felt  so  oppressed  that  I  could 
not  move  from  the  spot. 

The  oxen  that  I  had  sold  the  day  before  were  just  being 
led  down  the  hill.  When  Martella  saw  them  she  cried  out, 
"  Oh  what  splendid  beasts  !  are  they  yours  ?  " 

"  They  are  no  longer  mine.  I  sold  them  yesterday,  and 
they  are  to  be  led  to  France." 

"  A  pleasant  meal  to  you,  France ! "  said  Martella, 
laughing  boisterously.  I  could  not  help  noticing  her  hearty 
laughter,  for  I  felt  quite  shocked  by  it.  What  can  this 
child  be,  thought  I  ?  What  will  become  of  our  tranquil 
household  ? 

We  arrived  at  the  house.  The  room  seemed  lighted  up 
more  brilliantly  than  usual.  We  ascended  the  steps,  Mar- 
tella preceding  me.  My  wife  was  waiting  for  us  on  the 
threshold,  and  taking  both  of  Martella' s  hands  in  hers,  said, 
"  Now,  child,  thou  art  at  last  at  home." 

"  I  am  at  home  everywhere.  And  so  is  my  dog.  Isn't 
it  so,  Pincher?"  said  Martella  in  a  bold  tone. 

We  entered  the  room.  There  were  three  lights  on  the 
table.  My  wife's  eloquent  glance  told  me  to  ha're  patience, 
and  when  I  saw  her  lay  her  hand  on  her  heart  I  felt  that  she 


38  WALDFRIED. 

was  confident  that  she  could  direct  everything  for  the 
best. 

I  now,  for  the  first  time,  had  a  good  look  at  Martella. 
In  carriage  and  feature  she  seemed  as  wild  and  defiant  as  a 
gypsy.  Her  face  was  full  of  an  expression  of  boldness.  But 
she  was  indeed  beautiful  and  fascinating  when  she  spoke, 
and  even  more  so  when  she  laughed. 

"  Why  do  you  have  three  lamps  on  the  table  ?  "  said  she. 

"That  is  the  custom,"  answered  my  wife,  "when  a  bride 
comes  to  the  house." 

"How  lovely!"  exclaimed  Martella.  "The  one  light 
stands  for  us  who  are  as  one.  The  other  two  lights  repre- 
sent the  parents."  And  she  laughed  most  heartily.  Her 
next  question  was,  "  Why  do  you  have  two  clocks  in  your 
room  ?  " 

"  You  ask  a  great  many  questions,"  I  could  not  avoid 
answering.  But  my  wife  said,  "  That  is  right.  Always  ask 
questions,  and  you  will  soon  learn  all  that  you  need  know." 

Martella  may  have  imagined  that  she  had  been  too  pre- 
cipitate, for  she  soon  said  : 

"  To-morrow  is  yet  another  day.  I  am  so  tired.  I  would 
like  to  go  to  sleep  now.  But  I  must  have  my  dog  with  me, 
or  else  I  cannot  rest." 

Indeed,  her  gentle  good-night  and  her  curtsey  seemed 
strangely  at  variance  with  her  usually  bold  and  defiant 
manner. 

When  she  had  left  us,  my  wife  said  to  me,  "  Do  not  take 
this  affair  to  heart.  It  is  indeed  no  trifle.  But  remember 
that  Ernst  might  have  made  a  much  more  serious  mistake. 
He  loves  the  wild  creature,  and  our  duty  is  to  help  him  as 
best  we  can.  Let  Rothfuss  and  me  take  charge  of  the  girl. 
For  the  present,  you  had  better  treat  her  with  an  air  of  re- 
serve. We  two  will  attend  to  all.  You  may  be  glad  that  we 


WALDFRIED. 


39 


have  so  faithful  a  servant  as  Rothfuss.  They  are  friends  al- 
ready, and  he  says,  '  By  the  time  the  potatoes  are  brought 
home,  she  will  lay  aside  her  red  stockings.'  I  was  wishing 
for  that  on  our  way  here.  But  she  refused  so  positively, 
that  I  desisted  from  my  endeavors  to  persuade  her." 

After  a  little  while,  she  continued  : 

"  A  voice  in  the  forest  helped  me  to  bring  all  things  about 
as  they  should  be.  I  heard  the  cuckoo's  cry,  and  was  re- 
minded by  that,  that  he  would  leave  his  young  in  a  strange 
nest,  and  that  other  birds  would  patiently  and  affectionately 
nurture  the  strange  birdling.  We  are  something  like  these 
cuckoo  parents.  What  they  do  without  thought,  we  do  con- 
sciously." 

When  at  early  dawn  on  the  following  day,  I  looked  out 
of  my  window,  I  saw  Martella  and  her  dog  at  the  fountain 
in  front  of  the  house.  Seen  by  day,  and  in  her  light  attire, 
she  seemed  wondrously  beautiful  and  fascinating. 

She  washed  her  face  and  plaited  her  thick  brown  hair. 
Her  every  movement  seemed  free  and  noble,  and  almost 
graceful  enough  to  please  an  artist's  eye. 

She  sang  in  a  low  voice,  and  would  from  time  to  time 
exclaim,  "  Cuckoo  ! " 

Rothfuss,  who  saw  that  she  was  washing  herself,  called 
out  to  her  that  she  must  not  do  that  again.  "  The  cows 
drink  there,  and  if  you  wash  yourself  in  that  basin,  they  will 
never  go  there  again." 

"  I  have  already  noticed,"  she  replied,  "  that  the  cattle 
have  the  first  place  in  this  house." 

When  she  saw  me,  she  called  out  in  a  clear,  ringing  voice  : 

"  Good-morning,  master.  Ernst  was  certainly  right  when 
he  told  me  that  it  is  lovely  here.  One  can  see  so  far  in 
every  direction.  I  shall  yet  climb  every  one  of  those  hills. 
How  good  the  water  is  !  Do  you,  too,  hear  the  cuckoo  ? 


40  WALDFRIED. 

He  is  already  awake,  and  has  bid  me  good-morning.  Old 
Jaegerlies*  has  often  told  me  that  I  was  the  cuckoo's  child. 
And  do  you  know  that  the  cow  got  a  calf  during  the  night  ? 
A  spotted  cow-calf?  We  have  already  given  the  cow  some- 
thing warm  to  drink.  The  calf  drank  milk  when  it  was 
hardly  two  minutes  old.  Rothfuss  said  it  would  be  a  pity 
to  kill  the  calf.  I  am  going  to  drive  out  into  the  fields  with 
Rothfuss  to  get  some  clover.  Yes,  a  cow  has  a  good  time  of 
it  in  your  house.  But  look  !  the  cuckoo  is  flying  over  your 
house  !  That  is  an  omen  !  ". 

She  went  to  the  stable,  and  I  followed  her  a  short  time  af- 
terwards. She  looked  on  dreamily  while  the  cow  was  lick- 
ing the  new-born  calf,  and  said  at  last, 

"That  is  what  you  folks  call  kissing." 

Rothfuss  asked  her  : 

"  Are  you  fond  of  cows  ?  " 

"  I  don't  know  ;  I  never  had  one." 

He  showed  her  our  best  cow  and  said, 

"  Three  years  ago,  when  she  was  a  calf,  she  got  the  first 
prize  at  the  agricultural  exhibition.  She  puts  food  to  the 
best  use.  Everything  that  she  eats  turns  either  to  meat  or 
to  milk." 

Rothfuss  told  Martella  to  put  on  a  little  jacket.  They 
soon  drove  out  to  the  fields,  and  when  she  held  up  the 
scythe,  she  exclaimed,  "  Cuckoo  !  "  It  seemed  to  me  as  if 
I  were  dreaming,  and  yet  I  remembered  quite  distinctly 
that  my  wife  had  spoken  to  me  on  the  previous  night  of 
the  cuckoo's  young  ones. 

What  a  strange  coincidence  it  seemed  ! 

Martella  returned  from  the  fields  in  good  spirits,  and  dur- 
ing the  morning  lunch  was  quite  cheerful.  She  was  con- 

*  This  name  means :  Lizzy,  the  huntress. 


WALDFRIED.  4j 

stantly  talking  of  the  daughter-in-law,  and  the  cow-calf  that 
had  come  into  the  family  during  the  night  before. 

I  then  said  to  her,  "  I  will  give  you  the  cow-calf.  It  is 
yours." 

She  made  no  answer,  but  looked  at  me  with  an  air  of 
surprise. 

Rothfuss  told  me  that  when  in  the  stable,  she  had  said  to 
the  calf :  "  You  belong  to  me.  But  of  course,  you  know 
nothing  of  it.  You  really  belong  to  your  mother.  But  your 
mother  belongs  to  the  master,  the  master  belongs  to  Ernst, 
and  Ernst  belongs  to  me  ;  and  that  is  how  it  is." 

When  evening  came,  Rothfuss  expressed  his  opinion  in 
the  following  words  : 

"  If  her  inside  is  like  her  outside,  she  need  not  be  made 
any  better  than  she  already  is." 

Our  oldest  maid-servant,  Balbina,  seemed  quite  kindly 
disposed  to  the  new  arrival,  and  Martella  said  that  Balbina 
had  told  her  something  with  the  air  of  imparting  a  secret  of 
which  she  was  the  only  possessor.  And  what  was  it? 
"Why,  nothing  more  than  that  it  is  sinful  to  lie  and  steal." 

I  have  given  the  story  of  this  first  day  in  its  smallest  de- 
tails. It  is  only  for  the  first  green  leaves  of  spring  that  we 
have  an  attentive  eye.  They  go  on,  silently  increasing,  until 
they  become  so  numerous  that  they  excite  no  comment. 


CHAPTER  IX. 

MARTELLA  did  not  become  attached  to  any  one  in 
the  house  except  Rothfuss,  whom  she  was  con- 
stantly plying  with  questions  about  Ernst's  childhood. 
When  in  pleasant  evenings  during  the  week,  and  on  Sunday 
afternoons  in  clear  weather,  the  youths  and  maidens  would 
march  through  the  village,  with  their  merry  songs,  she  would 
sit  with  Rothfuss  on  the  bench  by  the  stable,  or,  unattended 
by  any  companion  save  her  dog,  would  be  up  in  the  woods 
that  lay  back  of  our  house. 

When  she  had  any  special  request,  she  would  communi- 
cate it  through  Rothfuss. 

Among  other  things,  she  wanted  to  go  out  into  the  forest 
with  the  wood-cutters.  From  her  thirteenth  year  she  had 
wielded  the  axe,  and  could  use  it  as  cleverly  as  the  men. 
We  did  not  grant  this  wish  of  hers. 

Her  craving  for  knowledge  was  insatiable,  and  I  marvelled 
at  the  patience  and  equanimity  with  which  my  wife  told  her 
everything  she  wanted  to  know. 

Things  to  which  we  had  become  accustomed  were  to  her 
occasions  of  the  liveliest  surprise.  This  did  not  seem  to 
change,  for  she  never  could  get  used  to  what  with  us  had, 
through  daily  habit,  become  a  matter  of  course.  To  her  all 
seemed  a  marvel. 

Her  glance  was  full  of  courage.  Her  voice  seemed  so 
full  of  sincerity,  that  her  strangest  utterances  required  no 
added  assurance  of  their  truthfulness.  Her  laughter  was  so 
hearty  that  it  seemed  contagious. 

Rothfuss  was  quite  proud  that  he  could  control  Martella, 


WALDFRIED.  43 

just  as  he  did  the  two  b.ays  that  he  had  raised  from  the 
time  they  were  foals,  and  delighted  to  speak  of  the  fact, 
that  our  youngest — as  he  called  Ernst — was  the  best  of 
marksmen.  He  had  secured  the  best  prize.  For  there 
could  be  no  other  girl  so  wise  and  merry  as  Martella.  And' 
she  was  so  full  of  merry  capers  that  the  very  cows  looked 
around  and  lowed,  as  if  to  say,  "  We,  too,  would  be  glad  to 
laugh  with  you,  if  we  only  could.  But,  alas  !  we  cannot 
We  have  not  the  bellows  to  do  it  with." 

She  had  named  her  calf  "  Muscat."  She  would  nurse  it 
as  if  it  were  a  younger  sister.  She  maintained  that  it  was  a 
perfect  marvel  of  health  and  wisdom,  and  that  the  old  cow 
was  jealous,  and  tried  to  butt  her  because  she  had  noticed 
that  the  calf  had  greater  love  for  Martella  than  for  its  own 
mother. 

There  was  one  point  on  which  she  and  Rothfuss  ahvays 
quarrelled.  She  had  an  inexplicable  aversion  to  America,  of 
which  Rothfuss  always  spoke  as  if  it  were  Paradise  itself. 
The  manner  in  which  Lisbeth,  the  locksmith's  widow,  had 
been  provided  for,  was  his  chief  argument  in  its  favor. 
"  None  but  a  free  state  would  provide  so  well  for  the  families 
of  the  men  killed  in  battle.  How  different  our  Germans  are 
about  that." 

Towards  my  wife  and  myself,  Martella  was  respectful,  but 
diffident. 

Ernst  came  to  us  but  twice  during  the  summer,  remain- 
ing but  a  few  hours  each  time. 

He  wanted  Martella  to  walk  or  drive  around  the  neigh- 
borhood with  him,  but  she  refused,  saying  "  that  she  would 
not  leave  home.  She  had  been  away  long  enough." 

Ernst  was  evidently  provoked  that  Martella  refused  to  go 
with  him,  but  kept  his  anger  to  himself. 

In  that  summer,  1865,  we  had  charming  harvest  weather, 


44  WALDFRIED. 

and  I  shall  never  forget  Martella's  saying,  "  I  shall  help 
gather  the  harvest.  I  was  a  gleaner  once,  and  know  that 
this  is  good  weather  for  the  farmers.  To  cut  the  ears  in  the 
morning  and  carry  home  the  rich  sheaves  in  the  evening, 
without  having  had  a  storm  during  the  day,  is  good  for  the 
farmer,  but  not  so  pleasant  for  the  poor  gleaner.  Storms 
during  the  harvest  time  scatter  the  grain  for  the  poor ;  for 
the  farmers  give  nothing  away  of  their  own  accord." 

Rothfuss  looked  towards  me,  and  nodded  approval  of  her 
words. 

Towards  the  end  of  summer,  Richard  paid  us  a  visit. 

Richard  had  written  to  us  some  time  before,  and  had  re- 
ferred to  Ernst's  conduct  in  indignant  terms.  He  felt 
shocked  that  one  who  had  not  yet  secured  a  livelihood  for 
himself,  had  already  linked  the  fate  of  another  with  his  own, 
and  had  inflicted  her  presence  upon  the  household.  But 
from  the  first  moment  that  he  saw  Martella,  he  admired  her 
more  than  any  of  us  had  done. 

When  he  offered  her  his  first  brotherly  greeting,  she  gazed 
at  him  with  her  brilliant  eyes,  and  said, 

"  I  can  see  ten  years  ahead." 

"  Have  you  the  gift  of  prophecy?" 

"  Oh  pshaw  !  I  don't  mean  that.  What  I  mean  is  that  in 
ten  years  from  now  Ernst  will  look  as  you  now  do.  But  I 
hope  that  when  that  time  comes,  he  will  not  have  to  use 
spectacles." 

Richard    laughed,  and    so   did   Martella  quite  heartily. 

There  is  nothing  better  than  when  two  people  laugh  to- 
gether at  their  first  meeting. 

Later  in  the  season,  my  daughter  Johanna,  who  is  the 
wife  of  a  pastor  in  the  Oberland  who  had  once  been  Lud- 
wig's  teacher,  came  with  her  groivn-uo  daughter  to  pay  us  a 


WALDFRIED.  45 

visit.  Johanna's  object  in  coming  was  to  receive  the  bene- 
fit of  the  milk  cure. 

At  their  very  first  meeting,  she  unintentionally  affronted 
Martelia.  Johanna  always  wore  black  silk  netted  gloves, 
and  when,  with  too  evident  an  air  of  assumed  kindness,  she 
offered  her  hand  to  Martelia,  the  latter  said  to  her  : 

"  There  is  no  need  for  a  fly-net  on  your  hand.  I  do  not 
sting." 

After  this  trifling  circumstance,  there  was  many  a  heart- 
burning between  Martelia  and  Johanna.  They  were  al- 
ways at  cross  purposes.  Rothfuss  was  provoked,  as  he  was 
unable  to  satisfy  Martelia  that  the  pastor's  wife  had  not  in- 
tended to  affront  her.  Martelia  refused  to  be  convinced,  and 
persisted  in  calling  Johanna  a  "  fly-net." 

When  she  had  once  conceived  an  aversion  for  any  one, 

she  was  immovable.       And  when  Johanna  came  to  the  cow 

stables,  which  she  did  twice  every  day  at  milking-time,  she 

would  always  in  an  ironical  tone  say,  "  Good-day,  madam 

ister-in-law." 

Johanna  found  in  this  a  cause  for  continued  ill-feeling,  to 
which,  in  her  discontented  and  susceptible  condition,  she 
readily  gave  way. 

Johanna  imagined  that  she  had  found  the  way  to  Martel- 
la's  heart,  by  assuring  her  how  much  she  pitied  her.  But 
that  only  served  to  make  matters  worse ;  for  Martelia  re- 
sented any  manifestation  of  pity. 

As  our  household  was  conducted  on  a  generous  scale, 
there  was  much  that,  in  Johanna's  eyes,  contrasted  unpleas- 
antly with  her  own  home.  She  frequently  alluded  to  the 
small  pay  her  husband  was  earning,  and  often  gave  us 
cause  to  remember  that  he  would  have  been  advanced  much 
more  rapidly,  if  he  had  not  been  the  son-in-law  of  a  member 
of  the  party  in  opposition  to  the  government.  She,  in  fact, 


46  WALDFRIED. 

made  no  concealment  of  her  belief  that  I  was  the  cause  oi 
her  husband's  and  her  daughter's  infirm  health.  If  it  were 
not  that  I  was  in  such  great  disfavor  with  the  government, 
they  would  long  ago  have  been  stationed  in  a  more  genial 
climate,  and  would  thus  have  recovered  their  health. 

She  maintained  that  our  mode  of  living  was  not  pious 
enough,  and  thought  it  most  atrocious  that  we  indulged 
Martella  in  her  heathenish  ways. 

She  did  not  care  to  go  to  the  village  pastor,  with  whom 
we  had  but  little  intercourse,  for  she  was  angry  at  him.  His 
position  brought  him  little  work  but  generous  pay,  and 
she  therefore  coveted  it  for  her  own  husband.  But  then,  the 
wife  of  our  pastor  happened  to  be  the  daughter  of  a  member 
of  the  consistory,  which,  of  course,  explains  the  whole  mat- 
ter. 

One  peculiarity  of  Martella's  afforded  Johanna  many  an 
opportunity  to  read  us  homilies  on  our  neglect  of  the  child. 
No  matter  whether  you  did  her  a  service  or  gave  her  a 
present,  Martella  never  uttered  a  word  of  thanks. 

I  am  unable  to  explain  the  trait.  It  may  have  been  the  re- 
sult of  the  simple  h'fe  of  nature  in  which  she  had  been  reared. 

My  son  Richard,  who  passed  a  portion  of  the  autumn 
holidays  with  us,  was  of  that  opinion. 

Richard  had  a  way  of  laying  aside  his  spectacles  after  he 
had  been  with  us  for  a  day  or  two,  and  getting  along  without 
them  until  the  day  of  his  departure.  He  thus,  with  every 
succeeding  year,  did  much  to  strengthen  his  overtasked 
eyes.  I  think  he  used  to  put  his  spectacles  in  the  keep- 
ing of  Rothfuss,  who  would  return  them  to  him  on  the  day 
he  left  home. 

On  this  occasion,  however,  he  retained  his  spectacles,  and 
spent  less  of  his  time  with  Rothfuss  than  with  Martella,  who 
seemed  to  have- become  fonder  of  him  than  of  any  of  us. 


WALDFRIED.  47 

In  the  evenings  and  on  Sundays,  she  would  take  lon^  walks 
with  him  in  the  woods,  and  would  talk  unceasingly. 

One  evening  Richard  said  : 

"  I  received  the  great  academical  prize  to-day.  Martella 
said  to  me  :  '  I  can  hardly  believe  that  you  are  a  professor ; 
you  are  so — so  wise,  and  have  so  much  common-sense,  and 
can  talk  like — like  a  wood-keeper's  servant.'  Can  you  im- 
agine greater  praise  than  that  ? 

"  And  let  me  tell  you,  moreover,  that  Martella  is  full  of 
wisdom.  She  knows  every  creature,  the  beasts  of  the  field 
and  the  birds  of  the  air.  And  besides  that,  she  can  read  the 
human  heart  thoroughly.  I  could  not  repeat  some  of  her 
opinions  to  you  without  committing  a  breach  of  confidence. 
But  I  can  tell  you  that  she  has  split  many  a  log,  and  knows 
how  to  swing  her  axe  to  the  right  spot. 

11  Yes,  Ernst  is  a  lucky  fellow ;  I  am  only  fearful  that  he 
may  not  understand  her  simple  nature.  She  is  too  wayward. 
I  trust  that  he  may  learn  to  see  in  her  a  real  incarnation  of 
undefiled  holiness  and  majesty.  It  is  true  that  in  her  case 
they  manifest  themselves  in  the  form  of  a  girl  not  given  to 
blissful  tears,  but  the  very  embodiment  of  joy  itself. 

"  While  walking  along  the  road,  she  was  chewing  twigs  of 
pine,  and  handed  a  few  to  me,  with  the  words  :  '  Taste  them  ; 
there  is  nothing  half  so  good  as  these.' 

"  When  I  told  her  that,  as  she  could  get  better  and  more 
regular  fare,  she  had  better  give  up  this  habit  of  chewing  pine 
needles,  especially  as  it  excited  her  nerves,  she  answered  : 
- 1  think  you  are  right.  They  always  excite  me  terribly.' 

"  We  were  about  to  cross  a  meadow.  I  was  afraid  of  the 
wet  places.  '  Follow  me,'  said  she,  '  and  be  careful  to  look 
out  for  the  molehills,  for  there  is  always  dry  soil  underneath 
them.' " 


48  WALDFRTED. 

While  Richard  was  thus  discoursing  with  unwonted  en- 
thusiasm, Johanna  had  risen  from  the  table  and  had  beck- 
oned to  her  daughter  to  follow  her. 

Richard  and  my  wife  had  noticed  this  as  well  as  I  had 
done.  They  did  not  allude  to  it,  however,  but  continued 
their  conversation,  agreeing  that  it  was  best  for  the  present 
to  let  Martella  have  her  own  way.  They  thought  that  she 
would  in  due  time  undoubtedly  awaken  to  a  longing  for 
life's  nobler  forms,  and  the  deeper  meaning  that  lay  beneath 
them. 

My  wife  had  no  set  plan  on  which  to  educate  Martella. 

"  She  is  to  live  with  us,  and  that  of  itself  will  educate  her. 
She  sees  every  one  of  us  attending  to  his  appointed  labor. 
That  will,  of  itself,  soon  teach  her  where  her  duty  lies,  and 
will  help  to  make  her  orderly  and  methodical.  She  sees  that 
our  lives  are  sincere,  and  that,  too,  must  do  her  good." 

My  wife  was  careful  to  caution  Richard  against  teaching 
her  any  generalities,  as  they  could  be  of  no  use  to  her. 

Martella  was  not  gentle  in  her  disposition.  She  was  severe 
towards  herself  as  well  as  towards  others.  She  had  no  com- 
passion for  the  sufferings  of  others.  Her  idea  was  that  every 
one  should  help  himself  as  best  he  could. 

She  had  never  cared  or  toiled  for  another  being.  Like 
the  stag  in  the  forest,  she  lived  for  herself  alone.  My  wife 
nodded  silent  approval  when  Richard  observed,  "In  a  state 
of  nature,  all  is  egotism ;  gentleness,  industry,  and  the  dis- 
position to  assist  others  are  results  of  culture." 

On  the  very  day  on  which  Richard  had  to  leave  us,  the 
Major  arrived  at  our  house.  He  was  on  a  tour  of  inspection, 
and  had  been  examining  the  horses  which  the  law  required 
the  farmers  to  hold  ready  for  government  uses. 

Our  village  was  not  included  in  his  district,  and  he  had 


WALDFRIED.  49 

gone  out  of  his  way  to  pay  us  this  visit.  He  was  in  full 
uniform.  His  athletic,  hardy  figure  presented  quite  a  stately 
appearance,  and  his  honest,  cheerful  manner  was  quite  re- 
freshing. 

He  was  glad  to  be  able  to  inform  us  that  the  ill-will  of  his 
superior  officers,  in  which  even  the  minister  of  war  had  par- 
ticipated, had  not  injured  him  with  the  Prince.  Although 
there  had  been  three  competitors  for  the  position,  the  Prince 
had  selected  him,  and  had  personally  informed  him  of  his 
promotion  with  the  words,  "  I  have  great  respect  for  your 
father-in-law,  and  believe  that  he  is  a  true  friend  of  the 
state." 

The  Major  was  not  wanting  in  respect  and  affection  for 
me,  and  his  behavior  to  my  wife  was  marked  by  a  knightly 
grace,  and  filial  veneration.  When  Richard  told  him  how 
Martella  had  in  himself  seen  her  own  betrothed  with  ten 
years  added  to  his  real  age,  he  replied  :  "I  have  never  said 
so,  but  it  has  often  occurred  to  me  that,  when  she  is  older, 
Bertha  will  be  the  very  picture  of  her  mother  as  we  now  see 
her." 

Richard  was  an  excellent  go-between  for  Martella  and 
the  Major,  who  had  brought  a  necklace  of  red  beads  which 
Bertha  had  sent  to  the  new  sister-in-law. 

Although  Martella' s  face  became  flushed  with  emotion,  she 
did  not  utter  one  word  of  thanks.  She  pressed  the  beads  to 
her  lips,  and  then  stepped  to  the  mirror  and  fastened  the 
necklace  on.  Then  she  turned  towards  us,  while  she  counted 
us  off  on  her  fingers  and  said,  "  I  am  a  sister-in-law.  Now 
I  know  everything,  and  have  everything.  I  have  a  pastor, 
a  professor,  a  major,  a  forester,  a  great  farmer,  and — what 
else  is  there?  Ah,  yes,  now  I  know — a  builder." 

"  Yes,  we  have  one  ;  but  he  is  in  America." 


5Q  WALDFRIZD. 

"  I  will  have  nothing  to  do  with  America,"  said  Martella. 

The  Major  ventured  the  remark  that  Ernst  had  acted  un- 
wisely in  leaving  the  service  ;  he  seemed  made  for  a  soldier, 
and  the  best  thing  he  could  do  would  be  to  return  to  the 
army.  But  in  that  case  he  would  have,  for  a  while  at  least, 
to  postpone  all  thoughts  of  marrying. 

*'  He  need  not  hurry  on  my  account,"  interrupted  Mar- 
tella ;  "  I  am  sure  I  shall  put  nothing  in  his  way.  I,  too, 
shall  need  some  time  to  make  myself  fit.  I  shall  have  to 
put  many  a  thing  in  here,"  pointing  to  her  forehead,  "  before 
I  shall  deserve  to  be  a  member  of  this  family.  Now  I  have  the 
necklace  that  my  sister-in-law  sent  me,  around  my  neck,  and 
do  not  mind  being  tied,  and — Good-night  !  " 

She  reached  out  her  hand  to  my  wife,  and  then  to  each 
one  of  us.  After  which  she  again  grasped  my  wife's  hand, 
and  then  retired. 

Richard  explained  Martella's  peculiar  characteristics  to  the 
Major.  Both  in  thought  and  in  action  she  was  a  strange 
compound  of  gentleness  and  rudeness. 

The  Major  asked  whether  we  knew  anything  about  her 
parents.  Richard  replied  that  she  had  imparted  facts  to  him 
that  bore  on  the  subject,  but  that  they  were  as  yet  discon- 
nected and  unsatisfactory,  and  that  he  had  given  her  his 
word  of  honor  that  he  would  reveal  naught,  until  she  herself 
thought  that  the  proper  time  had  come.- 

We  kept '  up  our  cheerful  conversation  for  some  time 
longer.  Suddenly  it  occurred  to  the  Major  to  observe  that 
the  dispute  between  Prussia  and  Austria  was  taking  a  dan- 
gerous shape,  and  that,  according  to  his  views,  Prussia  was 
in  the  right.  The  military  system  of  the  confederation  could 
not  last  long  in  its  present  condition. 

Thus  we  were  brought  face  to  face  with  serious  questions. 


WALDFRIED.  51 

Of  what  import  was  the  transformation  of  a  child  of  the 
forest,  when  such  weighty  matters  were  on  the  carpet. 

But  while  the  clouds  pass  by  over  our  heads,  and  the 
seasons  depart,  the  little  plant  quietly  and  steadily  keeps  on 
growing. 


CHAPTER  X. 

IN  the  winter  of  1865  I  left  home  to  attend  a  session  of 
the  Parliament. 

My  neighbor  Funk,  who  was  also  a  delegate,  accompanied 
me. 

It  grieves  me  to  be  obliged  to  describe  this  man  or  even  to 
mention  him. 

He  caused  me  much  sorrow.  He  humiliated  me  more 
than  any  other  man  has  ever  done,  for  he  proved  to  me  that 
I  have  neither  worldly  wisdom  nor  knowledge  of  men. 
How  could  I  have  so  egregiously  deceived  myself  in  him  ?  I 
am  too  hasty  in  determining  as  to  the  character  of  a  man, 
and  when  I  afterwards  find  that  his  actions  are  not  in  keeping 
with  my  conception  of  what  they  should  be,  the  inconsist- 
ency torments  me  as  if  it  were  an  unsolved  enigma.  In 
one  word,  I  have  suffered  much  because  of  a  lack  of  reserve. 
Unfortunately  I  must  give  all  or  nothing.  Even  now  I  can- 
not help  thinking  that  he  must  be  better,  after  all,  than  he 
seems.  I  find,  on  comparing  myself  with  him,  that  he  has 
many  an  advantage  over  me.  He  is  twenty  years  younger 
than  I  am,  and  yet  he  seems  as  if  he  had  matured  long  ago. 
I  shall  never  be  that  way,  no  matter  how  long  I  live.  I  am 
always  growing. 

He  had  failed  in  the  examination  for  a  degree,  and,  disap- 
pointed and  vexed,  had  entered  the  teachers'  seminary.  He 
afterward  actually  became  a  schoolmaster,  but  never  forgot 
that  he  had  once  aspired  to  enter  a  higher  sphere  of  life. 

When  the  revolution  broke  out  he  had  hoped  to  find  his 


WALDFRIED.  53 

reckoning  in  it.  He  speedily  found  himself  in  a  high  position, 
and  had  no  trouble  in  accustoming  himself  to  the  princely 
palace  in  which  the  provisional  government  had  located  itself. 

I  have  already  mentioned  that  I  had  brought  Funk  home 
from  Strasburg  with  me.  I  felt  so  firmly  convinced  of  his 
innocence  that  I  used  all  my  influence  in  his  behalf,  and 
even  deposited  a  considerable  sum  as  his  bondsman,  in 
order  that  he  might  be  tried  without  having  to  surrender  his 
liberty.  He  was  pronounced  innocent. 

He  made  me  shudder  one  day  when  he  told  me  that  the 
judges  had  evidently  imbibed  my  belief  in  his  innocence. 

Funk  was  a  handsome  man,  and  still  retains  his  good 
looks.  Annette,  the  friend  of  my  daughter  Bertha,  called  him 
a  perfect  type  of  lackey  beauty.  She  was  sure,  she  said, 
that  he  was  born  to  wear  a  livery.  There  was  something  so 
abject  and  cringing  about  him.  She  was  not  a  little  proud 
of  her  discernment,  when,  some  time  after,  I  confirmed  her 
judgment  by  the  announcement  that  Funk  was  actually  a  son 
of  the  Duke's  valet. 

Funk  did  not  resume  his  former  position  as  a  teacher. 
He  became  an  emigration  agent.  For  during  the  first  years 
of  the  reaction  there  was  a  great  increase  in  the  number  of 
emigrants  from  this  country  to  America. 

Besides  this,  he  had  also  become  an  agent  for  Insurances 
of  all  sorts — Fire,  Life,  Hail,  and  Cattle.  His  window- 
shutters  were  so  covered  with  signs  that  they  presented  quite 
a  gay  appearance. 

He  was  chosen  as  one  of  the  town-council,  but  the  gov- 
ernment did  not  confirm  him  in  office,  which  action  of 
theirs  gained  him  much  credit  with  the  people.  Two  years 
after  that,  when  he  was  elected  burgomaster,  he  knew  how  to 
bring  it  about  that  a  deputation  should  wait  upon  the  Prince 
in  person  to  urge  his  confirmation. 


54  WALDFRIED. 

Funk  induced  his  wife  always  to  wear  the  old-time  cos- 
tumes of  the  country  people. 

"  That,  you  must  know,"  he  said  to  me  one  day,  **  awak- 
ens the  confidence  of  the  country  people."  When  I  re- 
proved him  for  this  trick,  he  laughed  and  showed  his  pretty 
teeth.  There  was,  to  me  at  least,  always  something  insin- 
cere and  repulsive  in  his  laugh,  and  in  the  fact  that  he  never 
wearied  of  repeating  certain  high-sounding  phrases.  But 
what  was  there  to  draw  me  towards  this  man  ?  I  will  hon- 
estly admit  that  I  have  a  certain  admiration  for  combative- 
ness,  courage,  and  shrewdness — qualities  in  which  I  am  de- 
ficient. ' 

My  unsuspecting  confidence  in  others  is  a  mistake.  But 
I  have  been  thus  for  seventy  years,  and  when  I  reckon  up 
results,  I  find  that  I  am  none  the  worse  for  it.  Although 
over-confidence  in  others  has  brought  me  many  a  sorrow,  it 
has  also  given  me  many  a  joy. 

I  have  suffered  much  through  others,  and  through  Funk 
especially ;  but  I  still  believe  that  there  are  no  thoroughly 
bad  men,  but  that  there  are  thoroughly  egotistical  ones,  and 
that  the  pushing  of  egotism  beyond  its  due  bounds  is  the 
source  of  all  evil. 

If  I  had  not  helped  him  with  all  my  influence,  Funk  would 
not  have  been  chosen  a  delegate  to  the  Parliament.  When 
he  visited  me,  on  the  day  following  the  election,  he  ad- 
dressed me  in  a  tone  of  unwonted  and  unlooked-for  familiar- 
ity, much  to  the  disgust  of  my  wife. 

After  he  had  left  she  said  to  me,  "  I  cannot  understand 
you.  I  did  not  interfere  when  I  saw  that  you  were  trying  to 
gain  votes  for  Funk ;  that,  I  presume,  is  a  part  of  politics, 
and  perhaps  the  party  needs  voters,  and  just  such  bold  and 
irreverent  people.  They  can  say  things  that  a  man  of  honor 
would  not  permit  himself  to  utter.  But  I  cannot  conceive 


WALDFRIED. 


55 


how  you  can  allow  yourself  to  be  on  so  familiar  a  footing 
with  that  man." 

I  assured  her  that  the  first  advances  had  been  made  by 
him,  and  that  although  they  were  undesired  by  me  I  did  not 
choose  to  appear  proud. 

She  said  no  more.  But  there  was  yet  another  reproof  in 
store  for  me. 

When  I  entered  the  stable  Rothfuss  said  to  me,  "  Why 
did  you  let  that  grinning  fellow  get  so  near  to  you  ?  Is  he 
still  calling  out,  *  God  be  with  thee, Waldfried !  You  will  come 
to  see  me  soon,  will  you  not  ?  '  Such  talk  from  that  quarter 
is  no  compliment." 

I  did  not  suffer  him  to  go  on  with  his  remarks.  My  weak 
fear  of  hurting  the  feelings  of  others  had  already  worked  its 
own  punishment  on  myself. 

When  I  left  home  for-  the  session  of  1865,  Funk  was 
waiting  for  me  down  by  the  saw-mill.  I  found  him  with  a 
young  man,  the  son  of  a  schoolmaster  who  lived  in  the 
neighborhood.  He  took  leave  of  his  companion,  and  turn- 
ing to  me  exclaimed  with  a  triumphant  air,  "  I  have  already 
saved  one  poor  creature  to-day.  The  simple-minded  fellow 
wanted  to  become  a  teacher.  A  mere  teacher  in  a  public 
school !  A  position  which  is  ideally  elevated,  but  financially 
quite  low.  I  convinced  him  that  he  would  be  happief 
breaking  stone  on  the  road.  We  ought  to  make  it  impos- 
sible for  the  Government  to  get  teachers  for  its  public 
schools." 

When  I  answered  that  he  was  wantonly  trifling  with  the 
education  of  our  people,  he  replied,  "  From  your  point  of 
view,  perhaps  you  are  quite  right."  It  was  in  this  way  that 
I  first  got  the  idea  that  Funk  thought  he  was  controlling  me. 
His  subordination  was  a  mere  sham,  and  we  were  really  at 
heart  opposed  to  each  other. 


tj6  WALDFRIED. 

He  voted  as  I  did  in  the  Parliament,  but  not  for  the  same 
reasons. 

If  Funk  had  been  insincere  towards  me,  it  was  now  my  turn 
— and  that  was  the  worst  of  it — to  be  insincere  towards  him. 

I  was  determined  to  break  off  my  relations  with  him,  and 
only  awaited  a  favorable  opportunity  for  so  doing.  And  yet 
while  awaiting  that  opportunity  I  kept  up  my  usual  relations 
with  him. 

It  isxindeed  sad,  that  intercourse  with  those  who  are  in- 
sincere begets  insincerity  in  ourselves. 

We  reached  the  railway  station,  where  we  found  numerous 
delegates,  and  indeed  two  of  our  own  party,  who  were  cor- 
dially disliked  by  Funk.  One  of  them  was  a  manufacturer 
who  lived  near  the  borders  of  Switzerland.  He  was  a  strict 
devotee,  but  was  really  sincere  in  his  religious  professions, 
which  he  illustrated  by  his  pure  and  unselfish  conduct.  We 
were  on  the  friendliest  footing,  although  he  could  not  avoid 
from  time  to  time  expressing  a  regret  that  I  did  not  occupy 
the  same  religious  stand-point  that  he  did. 

The  other  delegate  was  a  proud  and  haughty  country  mag- 
istrate— a  man  of  large  possessions,  who  imagined  it  was  his 
especial  prerogative  to  lead  in  matters  affecting  the  welfare 
of  the  state.  He  had  been  opposed  to  Funk  during  the 
election,  and  had  ill-naturedly  said,  "Beggars  should  have 
nothing  to  say."  Funk  had  not  forgotten  this,  but  never- 
theless forced  him,  as  it  were,  into  a  display  of  civility. 

The  two  companions  were  quite  reserved  in  their  manner 
towards  Funk,  and  before  we  had  accomplished  our  journey 
I  could  not  help  observing  that  there  was  a  pressure  which 
would  induce  a  clashing  and  a  subsequent  separation  of 
these  discordant  elements. 


CHAPTER  XI. 

DURING  the  winter  session  of  the  Parliament  I  did  not 
reside  with  my  daughter  Bertha. 

At  a  future  day  it  will  be  difficult  to  realize  what  a  sepa- 
ration there  then  was  between  the  different  classes  of  our 
people. 

There  was  a  feeling  of  restraint  and  ill-will  between  those 
who  wore  the  dress  of  the  citizen  and  that  of  the  soldier. 
The  Prince  was,  above  all  things,  a  soldier,  and  when  in 
public  always  appeared  in  uniform. 

We  delegates,  who  could  not  approve  of  all  that  the  Gov- 
ernment required  of  us,  were  regarded  as  the  sworn  ene- 
mies of  the  state,  both  by  court  circles  and  by  the  army,  to 
whom  we  were  nevertheless  obliged  to  grant  supplies. 

An  officer  who  would  suffer  himself  to  be  seen  walking  in 
the  street  with  a  citizen  who  was  suspected  of  harboring  lib- 
eral opinions,  or  with  one  of  the  delegates  of  our  party, 
might  rely  upon  being  reported  at  head-quarters. 

Although  he  did  not  say  anything  about  it,  my  son-in-law 
was  much  grieved  by  this  condition  of  affairs.  Whenever  I 
visited  him  he  treated  me  with  respect  and  affection,  as  if 
he  thus  meant  to  thank  me  for  the  reserve  I  had  maintained 
when  we  met  in  public,  and  desired  to  apologize  for  the 
rigid  discipline  he  was  obliged  to  observe. 

We  had  a  long  session,  full  of  fury  and  bitterness  on  the 
part  of  the  ministers  and  officers  of  the  Government,  and  of 
the  depressing  consciousness  of  wasted  effort  on  ours.  The 


5  8  WALDFRIED. 

morning  began  with  public  debate ;  after  that  came  commit- 
tee-meetings, and  in  the  evenings  our  party  caucuses,  which 
sometimes  lasted  quite  late.  And  all  of  these  sacrifices  of 
strength  were  made  with  the  discouraging  prospect  that  the 
fate  of  our  Fatherland  still  hung  in  doubt,  that  our  labors 
would  prove  fruitless,  and  that  our  vain  protest  against  the 
demands  of  our  rulers  would  be  all  that  we  could  contribute 
to  history. 

The  air  seemed  thick  as  if  with  a  coming  storm.  We  felt 
that  our  party  was  on  the  eve  of  breaking  up  into  opposing 
fragments.  There  was  no  longer  the  same  confidence 
among  its  members,  and  here  and  there  one  could  hear  it 
said :  "  Yes,  indeed,  you  are  honest  enough,  and  have  no 
ambitious  or  selfish  views  to  subserve." 

P'unk  was  one  of  the  most  zealous  of  all  in  the  attempt 
to  break  up  the  party. 

For  a  while  he  had  undoubtedly  aspired  to  the  leadership. 
But  when  it  was  confided  to  a  gifted  man  who  had  availed 
himself  of  the  declaration  of  amnesty  and  had  returned  to 
his  Fatherland  some  years  before,  Funk  acted  as  if  he  had 
never  thought  of  the  position. 

Who  can  recall  all  of  the  changes  in  the  weather  that  help 
to  ripen  the  crop  ! 

A  spirit  of  fellowship  is  praised  both  in  war  and  in  voy- 
ages of  adventure.  The  life  of  a  delegate,  it  seems  to  me, 
combines  the  peculiar  features  of  both  of  those  conditions. 
It  is  no  trifling  matter  to  leave  a  pleasant  home  and  to  bid 
adieu  to  wife  and  children,  and  to  stand  shoulder  to  shoul- 
der, laboring  faithfully  day  and  night  for  the  common 
weal. 

I  have  had  the  good  fortune  to  gain  the  friendship  of 
man.  It  differs  somewhat  from  the  love  of  woman,  but  is 
none  the  less  blessed. 


WALDFRIED. 


59 


I  was  not  only  a  delegate  from  our  district  but  also  a 
member  of  the  German  Parliament.  I  was  in  accord  with 
the  best  men  of  my  country,  and  we  were  true  to  one 
another  at  our  posts.  May  those  who  in  a  happier  period 
replace  us  act  as  faithfully  and  unselfishly  as  we  did ! 

During  the  winter  session  my  wife's  letters  were  a  source 
of  great  enjoyment  to  me.  She  kept  me  fully  informed  of  all 
that  happened  at  home,  and  especially  in  regard  to  Martella. 

On  the  morning  that  I  left  home  she  came  to  my  wife  and 
said,  "Mother — I  may  call  you  so,  may  I  not? — and  I  shall 
try  to  be  worthy  of  it ;  and  when  master  returns,  I  shall  call 
him  father." 

She  pointed  to  her  feet.  My  wife  did  not  know  what  she 
meant  by  that,  until  she  at  last  said,  lt  Rothfuss  said  that  if  I 
were  to  lay  aside  my  red  stockings,  I  would  be  making  a 
good  beginning." 

And  after  this  she  began  again :  "  I  shall  learn  all  that 
you  tell  me,  but  not  from  the  schoolmaster's  assistant. 
When  he  was  alone  with  me  the  other  day,  he  stroked  my 
cheeks  and  I  slapped  him  for  his  impertinence.  I  shall 
gladly  learn  all  that  you  wish  me  to  learn." 

She  remained  with  my  wife,  and  appeared  qtiite  pliant  and 
docile.  My  wife  had  her  sleep  in  her  own  bedchamber, 
and  on  the  first  night  she  exclaimed,  with  a  voice  full  of 
emotion,  "  I  have  a  mother  at  last  ?  O  Ernst,  you  ought 
to  know  where  I  am  !  How  happy  you  have  been  to  have 
had  a  mother  all  your  life  !  " 

I  took  these  letters  to  my  daughter  Bertha,  who  thoroughly 
appreciated  and  loved  Martella.  She  said  that  her  own  ex- 
perience had  been  somewhat  similar ;  for  her  marriage  had 
introduced  her  to  an  aristocratic  and  military  circle,  in  which 
she  was  at  first  considered  as  an  interloper,  and  where  it 
took  some  time  before  she  could  acquire  the  position  due 


(5o  WALDFRIED. 

her.  For  even  to  this  day  the  aristocracy  retain  the  ad- 
vantage that  those  who  are  well  born  can  enter  good  society, 
even  though  they  be  utterly  devoid  of  culture. 

Annette,  who  had  also  married  an  officer,  had  become 
quite  attached  to  her,  and  the  result  of  their  combined 
efforts  was  that  they  at  last  achieved  quite  a  distinguished 
position.  Annette,  who  was  a  Jewess  by  birth,  and  very 
wealthy,  had  at  first  attempted  to  conquer  her  way  into 
society  by  dress  and  show.  Yielding,  however,  to  the  coun- 
sels of  Bertha,  she  took  the  better  course  ;  and  by  adopting 
a  simple  and  dignified  manner,  free  from  any  craving  for 
admiration,  the  recognition  she  merited  was  accorded  her. 

This  friend  of  Bertha  was,  I  confess,  not  at  all  to  my 
liking.  She  had  received  a  good  education,  and  even  had  a 
cultivated  judgment ;  but  she  was  fain  to  mistake  these  gifts 
for  genius,  and  imagined  herself  a  thoroughly  superior  woman 
— a  piece  of  self-deception  in  which  flatterers  encouraged 
her. 

Her  husband  regarded  her  as  a  woman  of  superior  gifts, 
and  succeeded  in  this  way  in  consoling  himself  for  the  incon- 
venient fact  of  her  being  of  Jewish  descent.  His  faith  in 
her  genius  seetned  to  increase  rather  than  diminish,  and  it 
was  his  constant  delight  to  sound  its  praises  to  others. 

Annette  treated  me  with  exceptional  admiration,  but  she 
always  seemed  desirous  of  making  a  parade  of  her  apprecia- 
tion of  me,  or  in  other  words,  having  it  minister  to  her 
own  glory.  Mere  possession  or  undemonstrative  emotion 
afforded  her  no  pleasure.  Her  talents  and  her  reflections 
afforded  her  great  enjoyment,  and  it  was  her  constant  desire 
that  others  should  have  the  benefit>of  it.  She  was  always' 
inviting  you  to  dine  with  her ;  and  if  you  accepted  her  in- 
vitations, she  was  never  satisfied  until  you  had  praised  the 


WALD  FRIED.  6 1 

dishes  which  she  could  so  skilfully  prepare.  She  sang  with 
a  powerful  voice  and  drew  very  cleverly,  but  wanted  the 
world  to  know  it,  and  to  pay  her  homage  accordingly. 

She  always  addressed  me  as  "  patriarch,"  until  I  at  last 
forbade  her  doing  so.  I  was,  however,  obliged  to  submit  to 
some  of  the  other  elegant  phrases  in  which  she  was  wont  to 
indulge.  She  had  no  children,  and  often  spent  the  whole 
day  in  the  private  gallery  of  the  House  of  Parliament,  where 
she  would  not  cease  nodding  to  me  until  I  at  last  returned 
her  salute. 

One  evening  there  was  a  party  at  Bertha's.  The  wife  of 
the  Intendant-in-chief  was  among  the  guests.  She  was  a 
beautiful  creature,  slender  and  undulating  in  form,  of  majestic 
carriage,  and  yet  withal  simple  and  unaffected.  She  had  a 
charming  voice,  and  sang  many  pretty  songs  for  us.  She  was 
so  obliging  too,  that,  yielding  to  the  repeated  requests  of  her 
delighted  auditors,  she  sang  song  after  song. 

I  had  known  her  as  a  young  girl.  She  was  the  daughter 
of  the  chief  forester,  and  seemed  to  retain  the  woodland 
freshness  of  her  childhood  days.  But  she  had  always  been 
ambitious,  and  had  thirsted  for  the  pleasures  of  city  life,  with 
which  she  had  become  acquainted  while  going  to  the 
school  which  was  patronized  by  the  reigning  Princess. 

At  one  of  the  public  examinations  she  had  sung  so  de- 
lightfully that  the  Princess  had  praised  her  performance ; 
and  I  believe  that  her  desire  for  a  brilliant  life  dated  from 
that  incident. 

She  was  fond  of  dress  and  show,  and  had  married  the 
Intendant,  who  was  a  dried-np,  conceited  fellow. 

Her  marriage  had  not  been  a  happy  one  ;  and  now  she 
sang  love-songs  full  of  glowing  passion,  of  sobs  and  tears. 

I  was  thinking  of  this,  and  asking  myself  how  it  could  be 


62  WALDFRIED. 

possible,  when  Annette  sat  down  by  my  side  and  softly 
whispered  to  me  : 

"  Do  explain,  if  you  can,  how  this  woman,  after  singing 
such  songs,  can  leave  the  company  and  ride  home  with  her 
disagreeable  husband  ?  I  could  not  sing  a  note  if  I  had 
such  a  husband." 

Annette  cannot  conceive  of  her  ever  having  been  in  love. 
All  her  singing  of  the  pleasures  and  the  pains  of  love  is  noth- 
ing more  than  poetical  or  musical  affectation.  "But  how 
did  she  thus  learn  to  simulate  emotion.  If  she  really  felt 
all  this  she  would  either  die  or  become  crazed  on  her  way 
home." 

From  that  moment  I  began  to  like  Annette.  She  had 
gone  much  further  than  I  had  dared  even  in  my  thoughts, 
and  proved,  at  the  same  time,  that  her  heart  was  true,  and 
that  she  could  not  separate  her  feeling  for  art  from  the  rest 
of  her  life. 

Bertha  showed  my  wife's  letters  to  her  friend,  who  con- 
ceived the  most  enthusiastic  affection  for  Martella.  She 
often  inquired  whether  there  was  anything  she  could  do  for 
the  charcoal-burner's  daughter. 

There  was  danger  of  offending  her  by  refusing  her  gifts. 
Even  a  virtue  may  at  times  assume  a  repulsive  form. 
Annette's  complaint — I  cannot  express  it  otherwise — was  a 
passion  for  helping  others. 

My  wife  wrote  that  Martella  was  like  a  fresh  bubbling 
spring,  which  only  needed  to  be  kept  within  bounds  to  be- 
come a  refreshing  brook ;  but  that  this  must  be  carefully 
done,  for  inconsiderate  attempts  to  deepen  the  channel  or 
divert  its  course  might  ruin  the  spring  itself. 

My  wife  also  informed  us  that  Ernst  had  been  home  to 
pay  a  short  visit.  He  seemed  quite  pensive,  and  expressed 
his  dissatisfaction  with  'the  fact  that  Martella  was  looking 


WALDFRIED.  63 

so  pale.  He  approved  of  the  education  which  she  was  re- 
ceiving, but  thought  that  her  freshness  and  strength  should 
not  be  sacrificed.  He  said  he  had  formed  a  plan  to  live 
with  Rautenkron,  with  whom  he  intended  to  practice,  and 
also  said  that  when  once  in  the  quiet  forest  he  would  study 
industriously. 

My  wife  strenuously  objected  to  this  course.  She  main- 
tained that  where  there  was  a  will,  one  could  attend  to  his 
duty  in  any  position  ;  and  moreover,  that  at  the  present  time 
it  was  not  well  for  Ernst  and  Martella  to  see  each  other 
so  often. 

Martella  was  of  the  same  opinion  ;  and  my  wife  could 
hardly  find  words  to  express  her  delight  that  Martella  was 
constantly  acquiring  gentleness  and  consideration  for  others. 
Although  at  first  she  had  been  loud  and  noisy,  there  was  now 
something  graceful  and  soothing  in  her  manner.  She  would 
arise  early  in  the  morning  and  dress  herself  in  silence,  while 
my  wife  would  feign  sleep  in  order  that  Martella  might  be- 
come confirmed  in  her  gentle  manners. 

One  evening,  when  Martella  had  been  the  subject  of  pro- 
tracted conversation,  I  returned  to  my  room,  and  for  the 
first  time  noticed  a  colored  lithographic  print  that  had  been 
hanging  there.  It  was  the  picture  of  a  danseuse  who  had 
been  quite  famous  some  years  before.  It  represented  her 
in  a  difficult  pose,  and  with  long,  flowing  hair.  The  print 
startled  me. 

It  was  wonderfully  like  Martella  ;  or  was  it  simply  self- 
deception  caused  by  her  having  been  in  our  thoughts  during 
the  whole  evening  ? 

I  felt  so  agitated  that  I  lit  the  lamp  again  and  took  another 
look  at  the  picture.  The  likeness  seemed  to  have  vanished, 


CHAPTER  XII. 

TOWARDS  the  end  of  November,  my  wife  wrote  to 
me  that  Ernst  had  been  at  home  again,  and  that, 
several  hours  after  his  arrival,  he  had,  in  the  most  casual 
manner,  mentioned  that  he  had  successfully  passed  his  ex- 
amination as  forester.  When  my  wife  and  Martella  signified 
their  pleasure  at  this  piece  of  news,  he  declared  that  he  had 
only  passed  his  examination  in  order  to  prove  to  us  and  the 
rest  of  his  acquaintance,  that  he,  too,  had  learned  something, 
but  that  he  was  not  made  to  be  put  just  where  the  state 
desired  to  place  him,  and  that,  in  the  spring,  he  and  Martella 
would  emigrate  to  America,  as  he  had  already  come  to  an 
understanding  with  Funk  in  regard  to  the  passage. 

When  he  asked  Martella  why  she  had  nothing  to  say  on 
the  subject,  she  replied  : 

"  You  know  that  I  would  go  to  the  end  of  the  world  with 
you.  But  we  are  not  alone.  If  we  go,  your  parents  and 
your  brothers  and  sisters  must  give  us  their  blessing  at 
parting." 

"  Oh  !  that  they  will." 

"  I  think  so  too.  But  just  consider,  Ernst !  We  are 
both  of  us  quite  young,  and  I  have  just  begun  to  live.  Do 
not  look  so  fierce ;  when  you  do  that,  you  do  not  look  half 
so  handsome  as  you  really  are.  And  besides,  there  is  some- 
thing yet  on  my  mind  which  I  must  tell  you,  and  in  which  I 
am  fully  resolved." 

"  I  cannot  imagine  what  you  mean ;  it  seems,  at  times, 
that  I  really  do  not  know  you  as  I  once  did." 


WALDFRIED.  6$ 

"  You  do  know  me,  and  it  grieves  me  to  be  obliged  to 
tell  you  so." 

"  What  is  it  ?  What  can  it  be  ?  You  have  become  quite 
serious  all  at  once." 

"  I  am  glad  that  you  can  say  so  much  in  my  praise,  for  I 
have  need  of  it ;  and  I  feel  quite  sure  that  you  will  approve 
of  what  I  am  going  to  say. 

"Just  see,  Ernst!  I  won't  speak  of  anything  else — but 
with  mother's  aid  I  have  begun  so  much  that  is  good,  that  I 
cannot  bear  to  think  of  hurrying  away  while  the  work  is  half 
finished.  You  have  passed  your  examination ;  let  me  pass 
mine  too.  First  let  mother  tell  me  that  my  apprenticeship 
is  at  an  end,  and  then  I  will  wander  with  you ;  and  we  shall 
be  two  jolly  gadabouts,  and  have  lots  of  money  for  travel- 
ling expenses.  Isn't  it  so?  You  will  let  me  stay  here  ever 
so  long  ;  won't  you  ? 

"  Ah,  that  is  right.  You  are  laughing  again,  and  I  see 
that  you  approve  of  what  I  have  said.  If  you  had  not  done 
so  you  should  have  had  no  peace,  for  my  mind  is  made  up. 

"  The  canopied  bed  next  to  your  mother's  is  now  mine ; 
and  indeed  it  is  a  heavenly  canopy  that  one  must  be  slow  to 
leave.  And,  as  I  told  you  before,  I  have  just  begun  •  to 
live." 

Ernst  looked  towards  my  wife.  It  seemed  as  if  doubt 
and  pride  were  struggling  within  him.  When  Martella  had 
left  the  room  and  my  wife  urged  him  to  remain  with  us  and 
to  afford  us  the  joy  of  having  such  a  daughter-in-law  in  our 
home,  he  was  vanquished,  and  exclaimed  : 

"  Yes,  I  am  indeed  proud  of  her  !  I  must  admit  I  never 
expected  so  much  of  her.  If  she  only  does  not  grow  over 
my  head." 

My  wife  wrote  me  that  she  only  remembered  a  portion  of 
what  had  happened.  The  wisdom  and  feeling  evinced  by 
5 


66  WALDFRIED. 

the  child  had  surprised  her ;  and  the  subdued,  heartfelt 
voice  in  which  she  had  spoken  had  been  as  delightful  as  the 
loveliest  music.  She  had  been  obliged  to  ask  herself  if  this 
really  was  the  wild  creature  who  had  entered  the  house  but 
three-quarters  of  a  year  ago.  The  change  that  she  had  de- 
voutly wished  for  had  been  brought  about  with  surprising 
rapidity.  Martella  had  awakened  to  a  sense  of  the  duties 
life  imposes  on  all  of  us. 

Nothing  can  be  more  gratifying  than  to  find  that  a  just 
course  of  action  has  produced  its  logical  results. 

Thus  all  was  well.  Ernst  went  out  hunting  with  Rauten 
kron,  and  once  even  prevailed  on  him  to  visit  our  house. 

Rautenkron  had  but  little  to  say  to  Martella.  He  would 
knit  his  heavy  eyebrows,  and  cast  searching  side-glances  on 
the  child.  This  was  his  custom  with  all  strangers.  When 
taking  leave  of  my  wife,  he  inquired  whether  we  knew  any- 
thing of  Martella' s  parentage.  All  that  we  knew  was  that 
she  had  been  found  in  the  forest  when  four  years  old. 
Jaegerlies  had  cared  for  her  until  Ernst  brought  her  to  our 
house.  Martella  had  told  more  than  that  to  Richard,  but 
he  had  firmly  refused  to  tell  us  what  it  was.  When  Rauten- 
kron had  left,  Martella  said  : 

"  He  looks  like  a  hedgehog,  and  I  really  believe  that  he 
could  eat  mice." 

In  the  last  letter  that  I  received  before  returning  to  my 
home,  my  wife  wrote  me  that  Martella  had  displayed  a  very 
singular  trait. 

Rothfuss  had  become  sick,  and  Martella,  who  was  as  much 
attached  to  him  as  if  she  were  his  own  child,  could  neither 
visit  nor  nurse  him.  She  had  an  unconquerable  aversion  to 
sick  people.  She  would  stand  by  the  door  and  talk  to  Roth- 
fuss,  but  she  would  not  enter  his  room.  She  was  quite 
angry  at  herself  because  of  this,  but  could  not  act  differently. 


WALDFRIED.  67 

"I  cannot  help  it — I  cannot  help  it,"  she  said.  "I  can- 
not go  near  a  sick  person."  He  begged  her  to  procure 
some  wine  for  him ;  some  of  the  red  wine  down  in  the  glass 
house.  He  knew  that  would  make  him  well  again.  Roth 
fuss  found  as  much  pleasure  in  deceiving  the  doctor  as  he 
usually  did  in  outwitting  the  officers. 

Martella  cheerfully  entered  into  his  plan  ;  she  got  the 
wine  for  him,  and  from  that  day  he  gradually  improved  in 
health. 

It  was  quite  refreshing  to  me  to  have  my  thoughts  recalled 
to  our  life  at  home.  While  the  most  difficult  political  ques- 
tions and  a  struggle  against  a  system  of  police  espionage 
were  engaging  us,  a  concordat  with  the  Pope  had  been  sub- 
mitted for  our  approval.  It  was  the  result  of  deep  and  long- 
protracted  intrigues,  and  was  full  of  carefully  veiled  and 
delicately  woven  fetters.  I  had  been  appointed  as  one  of 
the  committee  to  whom  the  matter  was  referred,  and  after  a 
heated  debate,  we  succeeded  in  securing  its  abrogation. 
The  minister  who  had  made  the  treaty  was  disgraced.  His 
accomplices  allowed  him  to  fall  while  they  saved  themselves. 
Funk,  in  his  own  name  and  that  of  two  associates,  gave  his 
reasons  for  declining  to  vote  on  the  question.  They  de- 
manded perfect  freedom  for  every  religions  sect,  and  the 
abandonment  on  the  part  of  the  state  of  its  right  to  interfere 
with  matters  of  faith. 

It  had  been  proposed  that  my  son  Richard,  who  was  Pro- 
fessor of  History  at  the  University,  should  be  appointed  as 
Minister  of  Education. 

He  had  published  a  powerful  work  on  this  topic.  My 
son-in-law  informed  me  that  he  had  heard  Richard's  name 
mentioned  in  Court  circles.  In  a  few  days,  however,  the 
rumor  proved  to  be  an  ill-founded  one.  A  declamatory 
counsellor  received  the  appointment. 


68  WALDFRIED. 

Although  encouraged  by  my  success,  it  was  with  a  sense 
of  overpowering  fatigue  that  I  returned  home  at  Christmas- 
time. I  felt  as  though  I  had  not  been  able  to  enjoy  a  night's 
sleep  while  at  the  capital :  it  was  only  at  home  that  I  could 
breathe  freely  again  and  enjoy  real  repose. 


CHAPTER  XIII. 

AT  home  I  found  everything  in  excellent  order.  Roth- 
fuss  was  still  complaining,  and  was  not  allowed  to 
leave  his  bed ;  but  he  was  mending,  and  had  naught  to  com- 
plain of  but  ennui  and  thirst. 

I  cannot  remember  a  merrier  Christinas  than  that  of  1865. 
We  could  quietly  think  of  our  children — we  knew  how  they 
lived.  Every  Christmas  we  would  receive  a  long  letter  from 
Ludwig ;  and  Johanna  wrote  us  that  affairs  were  improving 
with  her  husband. 

On  the  day  before  Christmas,  Ernst  arrived.  He  carried 
a  roebuck  on  his  shoulder,  and  stood  in  front  of  the  house 
shouting  joyously.  He  waited  there  until  Martella  went 
out  to  meet  him.  He  reached  out  his  arms  to  embrace 
her,  but  she  said,  "  Come  into  the  house.  When  you  get  in 
there,  I  will  give  you  an  honest  kiss." 

When  I  congratulated  Ernst  on  his  success  in  his  exami- 
nation, he  replied,"  No  thanks,  father;  I  was  lucky;  that  is 
all.  I  really  know  very  little  about  the  subjects  they  ex- 
amined me  upon.  I  know  more  about  other  things.  But  I 
passed  nevertheless."  It  was  delightful  to  listen  to  Richard's 
sensible  remarks;  Ernst's  conversation,  however,  was  so 
persuasive  and  so  varied  as  to  prove  even  more  interesting 
than  that  of  Richard.  He  expressed  himself  quite  happily 
in  regard  to  the  manner  in  which  one  should,  by  stealth  as  it 
were,  learn  the  laws  of  the  forest  by  careful  observation,  and 
referred  to  a  point  which  is  even  yet  in  dispute  among  for- 
esters— whether  a  fertile  soil  or  a  large  return  in  lumber  is 


70  WALDFRIED. 

most  to  be  desired.  I  began  to  feel  assured  that  my  son, 
who  had  so  often  gone  astray,  would  yet  be  able  to  erect  a 
life-fabric  that  would  afford  happiness  both  to  himself  and  to 
others. 

Towards  evening,  when  we  were  about  to  light  the  lamps, 
the  Professor  arrived,  to  Martella's  great  delight. 

"  I  knew  you  would  be  glad  to  see  me,"  said  Richard, 
"  and  I  must  confess  I  like  to  come  to  my  parents ;  but  I 
have  come  more  for  the  sake  of  seeing  you  than  any  one 
else." 

Richard  congratulated  Ernst,  and  promised  to  prepare  a 
grand  poem  for  the  wedding  day. 

The  lights  shone  brightly,  and  joy  beamed  from  every 
eye. 

The  Professor  had  brought  some  books  for  Martella,  but 
had  not  been  fortunate  in  his  selections.  There  were  chil- 
dren's books  among  them,  and  these  Martella  quietly  laid 
aside. 

Bertha  had  sent  her  a  dress,  Annette  had  contributed 
some  furs,  and  Johanna  had  sent  her  an  elegantly  bound 
Bible. 

"I  see  already,"  said  Martella,  "that  naught  but  good 
things  are  showered  down  on  me.  Let  them  come.  God 
grant  that  the  day  may  arrive  when  I,  too,  can  bestow  gifts. 
But  now  let  us  be  happy,"  she  said,  turning  to  Ernst. 
"  When  we  are  alone  together  in  the  wild-woods,  let  us  re- 
member how  lovely  it  is  here.  Look  at  the  Christmas-tree. 
It  was  out  in  the  cold  and  was  freezing ;  but  now  they  have 
brought  it  into  the  warm  room,  and  decked  it  with  lights  and 
all  sorts  of  pretty  gifts.  And  thus  was  I,  too,  out  of  doors 
and  forgotten ;  but  now  I  am  better  off ;  the  tree  is  dead, 
but  I — "  Richard .  grasped  my  hand  in  silence,  and  softly 
whispered : 


WALDFRIED.  yi 

"  Don't  interrupt  her.  Always  let  her  finish  what  she  has 
begun  this  way.  When  the  bird  singing  on  the  tree  ob- 
serves that  the  wanderer  is  looking  up  to  it  with  grateful 
eyes,  it  flies  away." 

Martella  tried  on  her  furs,  stroked  them  with  her  hand,  and 
then  lit  the  lights  on  a  little  Christmas-tree  on  which  were 
hanging  some. large  stockings — the  first  she  had  ever  knit. 

"  Come  along,"  she  said  to  Ernst,  "let  us  go  to  Rothfuss  ; 
and,  Richard,  you  had  better  come  with  us,  too,  and  help 
us  sing." 

Carrying  the  burning  tree  in  her  hand,  and  accompanied 
by  Ernst  and  Richard,  she  went,  singing  on  her  way,  to  the 
room  in  which  Rothfuss  lay. 

"You  are  the  first  person,"  she  said  to  Rothfuss,  "to 
whom  I  can  give  something.  I  only  knit  them ;  the  wool 
was  given  me  by  my  mother." 

"  Oh  ! "  exclaimed  Rothfuss,  "  no  wizard  can  do  what  is 
impossible.  Our  Lord  makes  the  wool  grow  on  the  sheep ; 
but  shearing  the  sheep,  spinning  the  wool,  and  knitting  the 
stockings  we  have  to  do  for  ourselves." 

On  the  next  day,  while  we  were  seated  at  table,  Rothfuss 
entered,  crying,  "  A  proverb,  and  a  true  one ;  she  has  put 
me  on  my  feet  again.  I  have  got  well." 

I  cannot  recall  a  merrier  Christmas  than  the  one  we  then 
enjoyed.  There  were  no  more  like  it,  for  in  the  following 
year  the  crown  had  departed. 

My  wife's  father  had,  after  withdrawing  from  his  position 
as  a  teacher,  employed  himself  in  translating  Goethe's  Jphi- 
genia  into  Greek.  He  had  left  his  task  incomplete.  As  a 
Christmas  present  for  mother,  Richard  had  brought  lovely 
pictures  to  illustrate  the  poem,  and  in  the  antique  room  of 
our  house,  in  which  we  had  casts  of  the  best  Greek  and  Ro 
man  statues,  Richard  would  read  aloud  to  my  wife. 


72  WALDFRIED. 

Martella  always  had  an  aversion  to  this  large  room,  and 
when  she  was  called  in  there  would  look  around  for  a  while, 
as  if  lost,  and  then  with  scarcely  audible  steps  leave  the 
apartment. 

My  wife  loved  all  her  children,  but  she  was  happiest  of  all 
with  Richard.  He  seemed  to  have  succeeded  to  her  father's 
unfinished  labors,  and  when  he  was  in  her  presence  she  al- 
ways seemed  as  if  in  a  higher  sphere.  Richard  had  a  thor- 
oughly noble  disposition  and  dignified  bearing. 

Mother  repeatedly  read  Lud wig's  letter,  and  said  : . 

"  The  Free-thinkers  could  not  bring  about  what  we  are 
now  experiencing :  that  on  a  certain  evening  and  at  an  ap- 
pointed hour  all  mankind  are  united  in  the  same  feeling. 
Do  you  believe,  Richard,  that  you  philosophers  could  bring 
about  such  a  result  ?  " 

Richard  thought  not ;  but  added  that  the  forms  assumed 
by  higher  intellectual  truth  were  constantly  changing,  and 
that  just  as  they  had  given  the  church  in  heathen  ages  a  dif- 
ferent character,  so  they  might  at  some  future  time  effect 
changes  in  later  forms  of  religious  belief. 

Martella  entered  the  room  at  that  moment,  and  my  wife's 
significant  glance  reminded  Richard  that  he  had  better  not 
prolong  the  discussion.  We  were  a  happy  circle,  and  Rich- 
ard was  especially  so  because  he  had  made  common  cause 
with  me  in  the  last  exciting  question.  The  future  of  our 
Fatherland,  however,  did  not  afford  him  a  pleasant  outlook. 
He  believed  that  the  great  powers  were  playing  a  false  game 
and  were  only  feigning  to  quarrel  in  order  that  they  might  the 
more  successfully  divide  up  the  lesser  states  among  them- 
selves. He  felt  sure  that  their  plan  was  to  divide  up  all  the 
rest  of  Germany  between  Prussia  and  Austria.  I,  too,  had 
sad  thoughts  in  this  connection,  but  could  not  picture  the 
future  to  myself.  This  alone  was  certain  :  our  present  con- 


WALDFR1ED.  73 

dition  could  not  last.  In  the  meanwhile  we  awaited  Napol- 
eon's New  Year's  speech.  His  words  would  inform  the 
world  what  was  to  become  of  it. 

In  our  happy  family  circle  we  forgot  for  a  little  while  the 
feeling  of  deep  humiliation  that  hung  over  all,  and  the  doubts 
that  always  caused  us  to  ask  ourselves,  "  To  whom  will  we 
belong?" 

It  is  indeed  sad  when  one  is  forced  to  say  to  himself, 
"  To-morrow  you  and  your  country  may  be  handed  over  to 
some  King." 


CHAPTER  XIV. 

WHENEVER  I  returned  from  Parliament,  it  seemed  as 
if  I  had  left  a  strange  world.  Although  my  labors 
there  were  in  behalf  of  those  dearest  to  me,  I  was  too  far 
removed  from  them  to  have  them  constantly  in  my  mind. 
And  for  many  a  morning  after  my  return  the  force  of  habit 
made  me  wonder  why  the  usual  amount  of  printed  matter 
that  had  been  handed  me  while  at  the  capital  was  not  forth- 
coming. 

I  found  the  affairs  of  the  village  in  good  order. 

That  was  the  only  time  that  I  can  write  about — the  time 
when  my  wife  was  still  .  . 

I  have  been  gazing  out  over  the  mountain  and  into  the 
dark  wood,  that  I,  or  rather  she,  planted,  and  then  I  lifted  my 
eyes  up  to  heaven.  The  stars  are  shining,  and  it  is  said  that 
light  from  stars  that  have  already  perished  is  still  travelling 
towards  us.  May  the  light  that  was  once  mine  thus  flow 
unto  you  when  I  am  no  longer  here.  But  to  proceed. 

For  three-and-twenty  years  I  filled  the  office  of  burgo- 
master, and  was  of  great  use  to  our  parish.  Above  all  things, 
I  built  up  its  credit.  To  accomplish  this  I  was  obliged  to  be 
severe  and  persistent  in  prosecuting  the  suit.  But  now  things 
have  so  far  improved  that  the  people  at  Basle  regret  that  no 
one  in  our  village  desires  to  borrow  money  from  them. 

The  two  chief  benefits  that  I  have  procured  for  our  vil- 
lage are  good  credit  and  pure  water. 

Just  as  credit  is  the  true  measure  of  economical  condition, 
so  is  water  the  measure  of  physical  well-being. 


WALDFRIED.  »$ 

•  I  converted  the  heath  into  a.  woodland.  It  was  twenty- 
three  years  ago,  and  I  was  the  youngest  member  of  the  town 
council ;  but,  aided  by  my  cousin  Linker,  I  induced  the  peo- 
ple of  our  parish  to  plant  trees  in  the  old  meadow,  and  to 
this  day  every  one  of  our  people  derives  a  modefate  profit 
from  the  little  piece  of  woodland  that  we  now  have  there. 
Its  value  increases  from  year  to  year. 

My  cousin  Linker  had  been  a  book-keeper  in  the  glass- 
house down  in  the  valley.  He  married  a  daughter  of  the 
richest  farmer  in  the  village,  and  became  quite  a  farmer  him- 
self. 

I  learnt  a  great  deal  from  him.  In  business  matters  he 
was  greatly  my  superior,  for  he  was  shrewder,  or  in  other 
words,  more  distrustful,  than  I. 

Until  about  five  years  ago,  we  were  partners  in  an  extensive 
lumber  business.  We  built  the  first  large  saw-mill  in  the 
valley.  It  had  three  saws,  and  all  the  new  appliances,  and  a 
part  of  our  business  was  to  saw  up  logs  and  beams.  I  also 
built  a  saw -mill,  which  is  conducted  on  the  co-operative 
system,  for  the  benefit  of  the  villagers. 

When  the  Parliament  had  determined  upon  having  a  for- 
tress erected  in  our  neighborhood,  our  business  friends  offered 
us  their  congratulations.  They  well  knew  that  this  would 
require  so  much  lumber  as  to  give  rise  to  a  profitable  busi- 
ness. And  this,  I  must  confess,  is  a  point  which  I  would 
like  to  forget.  But  who,  after  all,  leads  a  life  which  is  en- 
tirely pure,  and  without  being  in  the  slightest  spoiled  with 
intercourse  with  the  world. 

Cousin  Linker  conducted  a  large  business  in  his  name  and 
mine.  I  did  not  take  any  active  part  in  the  negotiations, 
although  I  was  responsible  for  what  was  done.  He  would 
often  say,  "  You  are  absurdly  virtuous.  One  like  you  will 
never  get  on  in  the  world." 


;6  WALDFRIED. 

Joseph,  my  cousin's  only  son,  and  of  the  same  age  as  our 
Ludwig,  had  married  my  daughter  Martina,  who  died  shortly 
after  the  birth  of  their  first  child.  Her  son  Julius  was  a  for- 
ester'^ apprentice.  Joseph  married  again,  but  he  is  still 
faithful  to  me  and  mine,  while  we  are  quite  attached  to  his 
second  wife  and  her  three  daughters. 

Joseph  is  now  burgomaster,  and  I  hope  he  will  one  day 
occupy  my  position  as  a  member  of  the  Parliament.  He 
works  zealously  for  the  public  good,  and  has  one  great  ad- 
vantage that  did  not  exist  in  my  time.  For  nowadays  there 
are  numerous  good  burgomasters  in  the  neighborhood,  and 
it  is  therefore  .easier  to  carry  out  desirable  measures. 

Last  winter,  Joseph  induced  the  people  of  Brauneck,  the 
next  village,  to  combine  with  ours  in  laying  out  a  road 
through  the  common  woods,  and  the  wood  taken  out  was 
worth  more  than  twice  the  cost  of  the  labor. 

Joseph  inherited  my  cousin's  shrewd  business  notions. 
He  caused  hundreds  of  little  branches  to  be  gathered  up  and 
prepared  for  Christmas-trees,  and  at  the  proper  time  would 
send  them  to  the  railway,  and  have  them  sent  down  the 
country.  I  did  my  share  in  building  the  road,  for  it  passes 
right  by  my  land,  and  is  of  great  use  to  me.  I  do  not  think 
of  cutting  down  any  of  the  lumber.  The  red  pine  may  stand 
for  another  twenty  years.  I  could  almost  wish  that  this  wood 
might  remain  forever,  for  it  is  hers  ! 

In  the  following  spring,  a  gust  of  wind  tore  away  some  of 
the  finest  branches,  and  the  first  planks  made  of  them  were 
used  to  construct  a  coffin. 

But  I  will  not  anticipate.  It  was  in  the  third  year  after 
our  marriage  that  I  returned  home  one  evening  with  a  large 
load  of  red-pine  saplings.  I  was  sitting  on  the  balcony  with 
my  wife,  later  in  the  evening,  and  was  telling  her  that  I  in- 


WALDFRIED.  jj 

tended  to  set  the  five-year-old  shoots  down  by  the  stone 
wall,  and  that  I  had  therefore  chosen  hardy  plants,  in  which 
the  root  was  in  proper  proportion  to  the  crown,  but  that  it 
was  always  difficult  to  find  conscientious  workmen,  who 
would  look  out  for  one's  interest  while  attending  to  the 
matter. 

My  wife  listened  patiently  while  I  explained  the  manner  in 
which  the  shoots  should  be  planted. 

"  Let  me  attend  to  this  work,"  said  she.  "  It  is  well  that 
forest-trees  do  not  require  the  same  care  as  animals,  or  fruit- 
trees.  Rude  nature  protects  itself.  But  it  will  afford  me 
pleasure  to  tend  the  shoots  with  great  care." 

"  But  it  is  fatiguing." 

"  I  know  that,  but  I  can  do  something  for  the  forest  that 
brings  us  so  many  blessings." 

I  gladly  consented.  And  thus  we  have  a  fine  grove  down 
by  the  stone  wall. 

While  the  children  were  growing  up,  my  wife  knew  how 
to  invest  the  planting  of  trees  with  a  festive  character. 
Richard  and  Johanna  soon  grew  tired  of  it.  But  Bertha, 
Ludwig,  Martella,  and  at  a  later  day  Ernst,  were  full  of  zeal, 
and  had  an  especial  affection  for  the  trees  which  they  had 
planted  with  their  own  hands. 

My  wife  was  perfectly  familiar  with  every  nook  in  the 
woods,  and  when  the  new  road  was  laid  out  she  pointed 
out  to  Joseph  a  clear  and  fresh  spring  which  had  remained 
undisturbed,  while  we  in  the  village  were  often  poorly  sup- 
plied with  good  drinking  water.  She  persuaded  him  to  alter 
its  course  so  that  it  would  flow  towards  the  village  ;  and  now, 
thanks  to  her,  we  have  a  splendid  spring  which  even  in  the 
heat  of  summer  furnishes  us  with  an  abundance  of  cool  and 
pure  water. 

To  this  day  we  call  it  the  Gustava  spring. 


78  WALDFRIED. 

Every  year,  at  my  wife's  birthday,  it  is  decorated  by  the 
youth  of  the  village. 

She  seemed  to  live  with  the  woods  that  she  had  planted. 
Without  a  trace  of  sentimentality,  I  mean  exaggerated  sus- 
ceptibility, she  rejoiced  in  the  sunshine  and  the  rain,  the 
mists  and  the  snow,  because  they  helped  the  plants,  and  this 
state  of  mind  contributed  to  the  quiet  grace  and  dignity 
which  so  well  became  her. 

On  Christmas  afternoon  we  could,  in  our  sleighs,  ride  as 
far  as  the  wood  and  the  village  beyond  it. 

Martella  told  us  that  she,  too,  had  planted  thousands  of 
white  and  red  pines,  but  that  there  was  not  a  tree  that  she 
could  call  her  own. 

She  called  out  unto  the  snow-covered  plantation  :  "  Say  : 
Mother." 

"  Mother,"  answered  the  distant  echo. 

"And  now  say  :  Waldfried." 

"  Waldfried"  was  the  answer.  We  returned  home,  happy 
and  light-hearted.  Ernst  remained  with  us  until  New  Year's 
Day,  and  seemed  to  have  regained  his  wonted  cheerfulness. 

It  was  with  pleasure  not  unmixed  with  jealousy,  that 
Ernst  saw  how  Martella  hung  on  Richard's  lips  while  listening 
to  his  calm  and  clear  remarks  on  the  topics  that  arose  from 
day  to  day.  His  explanations  were  such  that  the  simplest 
intellect  could  comprehend  them.  I  cannot  help  thinking 
that  Ernst's  glances  at  Martella  often  were  intended  to 
convey  some  such  words  as  these  :  "  Oh,  I  know  all  that, 
too,  but  I  am  not  always  talking  about  it ! " 

"I  did  not  know  that  you  could  talk  so  well,"  said  Mar- 
tella on  one  occasion.  At  times  we  had  quite  heated  dis- 
cussions. 

With  my  sons  it  cost  me  quite  an  effort  to  d-jfend  my 
faith  in  the  people. 


WALDFRIED.  79 

Ernst  and  Richard,  who  rarely  agreed  on  any  question, 
united  in  their  low  opinion  of  the  people. 

Ernst  despised  the  farmers,  and  said  he  would  not  con- 
fide the  charge  of  the  woods  to  them,  as  they  would  incon- 
siderately destroy  the  whole  forest  if  they  had  the  chance. 

Hichard  adduced  this  as  a  proof  that  it  would  always  be 
necessary  to  teach  the  people  what,  for  their  own  good, 
should  be  done  as  well  as  left  undone. 

He  dwelt  particularly  on  that  severe  sentence,  terrent 
nisi  metuant.  The  mass  of  the  people  is  terrible  unless 
held  in  subjection  by  fear.  History,  which  was  his  special 
science,  furnished  him  with  potent  proofs,  that  the  people 
should  always  be  ruled  with  a  firm  hand. 

Joseph  listened  silently  to  the  discussions  carried  on  by 
the  brothers.  He  was  always  glad  to  hear  what  those  who 
were  educated  had  to  say.  He  never  took  part  when  gen- 
eralities were  discussed.  It  was  not  until  they  began  to 
conjecture  as  to  what  Napoleon,  the  ruler  of  the  world,  might 
say  in  his  next  New  Year's  address,  that  his  anger  found 
vent  in  sharp  words. 

Later  generations  will  hardly  be  able  to  understand  this. 
These  men  were  seated  together  in  a  well-ordered  house  in 
the  depths  of  the  forest ;  and  even  there  the  spirit  of  doubt 
and  questioning,  that  could  not  be  banished,  was  constantly 
at  their  side,  and  pooring  wormwood  into  their  wine. 

There  was  no  unalloyed  happiness  left  us — no  freedom 
from  care.  Will  not  the  Emperor  of  the  French  hurl  his  bot- 
tles at  us  in  the  morning !  What  will  he  not  attempt  for  the 
sake  of  securing  his  dynasty  and  gratifying  the  theatrical 
cravings  of  his  people !  The  whole  world  was  in  terror. 
Everything  was  in  a  state  of  morbid  excitement,  and,  as  Ernst 
said,  "  watching  like  a  dog  for  the  morsel  that  the  great  Pa- 


go  WALDFRJED. 

risian  theatrical  manager  might  throw  to  it ; "  and  here  Rich. 
ard  interrupted  him.  . 

Richard  had  a  great  love  for  established  foims.  He  al- 
ways expressed  himself  with  moderation.  Ernst,  however, 
would  allow  his  feelings  to  run  away  with  him,  and  would 
often  find  that  he  had  gone  too  far. 

Richard,  who  had  had  his  younger  brother  at  his  side  during 
the  years  spent  at  the  Gymnasium,  still  regarded  himself  as 
a  sort  of  teacher  and  guide  to  Ernst,  and  could  hardly  realize 
how  that  youth  could  have  been  so  self-reliant  as  to  get 
himself  a  bride  under  such  peculiar  circumstances. 

Richard  confessed  that  he  desired  to  achieve  a  career. 
"  My  time  will  come.  Perhaps  I  may  have  to  wait  until  I 
have  gray  hairs,  or  none  at  all ;  but  I  shall,  at  all  events,  not 
allow  love  to  interfere  with  my  plans.  I  shall  not  marry, 
unless  under  circumstances  that  will  help  to  secure  the  end 
I  have  in  view." 

I  had  accustomed  myself  to  leave  both  sons  undisturbed 
in  their  views  of  life.  They  both  agreed  in  regarding  me  as 
an  idealist,  although  their  reasons  for  reaching  this  con- 
clusion were  dissimilar. 

I  love  to  recall  the  passage  in  Plutarch's  Lycurgus.  The 
old  men  are  singing,  "  We  were  once  powerful  youths ; " 
the  men  sing,  "  But  we  are  now  strong ; "  and  the  youths 
sing,  "  But  we  will  be  still  stronger  than  you  are  ! " 

The  world  progresses,  and  every  new  generation  must  de- 
velop the  old  ideas  and  introduce  new  ones.  It  will  go  hard 
with  us  eld  folks  to  admit  that  these  are  better  than  ours; 
but  they  are  so,  nevertheless. 

When  Richard  was  alone  with  me,  he  expressed  his  great 
delight  in  regard  to  his  youngest  brother;  and  as  the  jour- 
nals of  that  day  contained  a  call  for  participants  in  the  Ger- 
man Expedition  to  the  North  Pole,  Richard  would  gladly 


WALDFRIED.  81 

have  seen  Ernst  take  a  part  in  the  enterprise.  He  main- 
tained that  Ernst  was  endowed  with  qualities  that  would 
gain  him  distinction  as  a  student  of  nature,  and  that  a. 
voyage  of  discovery  would  make  a  hero  of  him.  For  he  hac1^ 
invincible  courage,  fertility  of  invention,  fine  perception,  and 
much  general  knowledge,  combined  with  the  ability  to  see 
things  as  they  are. 

Ernst  was  full  of  youthful  buoyancy,  just  as  he  had  been 
in  the  earliest  years  of  his  student  life.  He  was  the  life  of 
the  house,  constantly  singing  and  yodling ;  and  his  special 
enthusiastic  friend,  Rothfuss,  one  day  said  to  me  while  in  the 
stable,  "  I  knew  it.  I  knew  all  about  it.  Our  Ernst  cannot 
come  to  harm.  Why,  just  listen  to  his  singing.  A  tree 
where  a  bird  builds  its  nest  is  in  TO  danger  from  vermin." 
4* 


CHAPTER  XV. 

AT  a  meeting  of  the  burgomasters  of  t'he  neighborhood, 
held  on  New  Year's  day,  it  was  determined  to  call 
a  general  meeting  of  electors,  to  assemble  in  the  chief  town 
of  the  distiict,  and  to  receive  a  report  in  regard  to  the  last 
session  of  the  Parliament. 

On  New  Year's  Day  Ernst  left  us,  as  the  Prince  and  his 
ministers  intended  to  hunt  during  the  next  few  days  in 
the  district  which  was  in  charge  of  his  chief. 

When  he  was  about  to  leave,  Martella  said  to  him,  "  You 
have  good  reason  to  feel  happy.  The  walls  have  heard  you 
with  joy,  and  every  being  in  there  thinks  well  of  you  and 
me." 

"And  you?"  asked  he. 

"  I  need  not  be  thinking  of  you.  For  you  are  my  other 
self." 

It  was  a  clear,  mild,  winter  day  when,  accompanied  by 
Joseph  and  Richard,  I  drove  to  the  neighboring  town  in 
which  the  meeting  was  to  be  held.  It  was  Richard's  inten- 
tion to  return  to  the  University  at  the  close  of  the  meeting. 

Rothfuss  had  fully  recovered.  Displaying  his  new  stock- 
ings, and  wearing  his  forester's  coat,  he  sat  up  on  the  driv- 
er's box,  while  he  managed  the  bays.  Although  he  enter- 
tained a  deep  contempt  for  mankind  in  general,  and  for  that 
portion  of  it  that  lived  in  our  neighborhood  in  particular,  he 
tvas  always  willing  to  take  part  in  anything  that  was  done  in 
*ny  honor. 

He  often  remarked  that  the  people  did  not  deserve  that 


WALDFRIED.  83 

one  should  walk  three  steps  for  their  sake.  He  would  never 
forget  the  way  in  which  they  had  treated  the  chieftains  of 
1848  ;  or  that  a  man  like  Ludwig,  to  whom  he  always  ac- 
corded most  generous  praise,  was  obliged  to  leave  his  home, 
while  no  one  had  a  thought  for  him,  or  for  the  one  who  had 
suffered  himself  to  be  imprisoned  for  his  sake. 

The  road  led  through  the  valley,  and  was  cheerful  with  the 
sound  of  the  sleigh-bells.  Rothfuss  cracked  his  whip,  and 
soon  distanced  all  the  other  drivers. 

Here  and  there,  sleighs  might  be  seen  coming  down  the 
hillside.  At  the  village  taverns,  teams  were  resting,  and 
from  every  window,  as  well  as  from  passers  on  the  highway, 
came  respectful  greetings,  and  at  times  even  enthusiastic 
cheers. 

In  token  of  his  thanks,  Rothfuss  cracked  his  whip  still 
more  loudly. 

He  would  look  around  from  time  to  time,  as  if  noting  how 
much  pleasure  these  tokens  of  respect  afforded  me.  But 
once  he  said  to  Richard,  "  It  is  all  very  well,  Mr.  Professor ; 
but  if  the  weather  were  to  change,  all  these  cheers  would 
freeze  in  the  mouths  that  are  now  uttering  them.  We  have 
known  something  of  that  kind  already." 

I  must  admit,  however,  that  these  attentions  did  my  heart 
good.  There  is  nothing  in  the  associations  of  home  that  is 
more  grateful  than  to  be  able  to  say  to  one's  self,  "  I  live  in, 
the  midst  of  my  voters.  I  do  my  duty  without  fear  or  favor, 
and  without  my  asking  for  office,  my  fellow-citizens  select 
me  as  their  representative  in  the  councils  of  the  nation." 

Like  the  breath  of  the  woods  such  homage  has  a  fragrance 
peculiarly  its  own.  I  cannot  believe  in  the  sincerity  of  one 
who,  from  so-called  modesty,  or  affected  indifference  to  the 
opinions  of  his  fellow-citizens,  would  refuse  office  when  thus 
offered  to  him.  I  frankly  admit  that  it  is  not  so  unpleasant 


84  WALDFRIED. 

to  me  to  find  that  others  think  at  least  as  well,  or  even  bettel 
of  me,  than  I  do. 

This  of  course  brings  to  mind  Rautenkron  the  foi ester, 
who  would  stoutly  combat  my  opinion  in  this  matter,  for  he 
thinks  that  a  love  of  such  honors  is  the  worst  sort  of  depen- 
dence. 

When  I  arrived  at  the  meeting,  I  made  my  report  in  a 
quiet  matter-of-fact  manner.  It  is  time  for  our  people  to 
learn  that  the  affairs  of  the  state  should  have  a  higher  use 
than  merely  to  serve  as  the  occasion  for  fine  speeches.  Funk 
was  sitting  on  the  front  bench,  with  a  follower  of  his  on 
either  side  of  him.  One  of  them  was  known  as  Schweitzer- 
Schmalz.  He  was  a  fat,  puffed  up  farmer,  who,  to  use  his 
own  words,  took  great  delight  in  "  trumping  "  the  students 
and  public  officials. 

But  a  few  words  as  to  Schmalz.  A  man  of  his  dimensions 
requires  more  space  than  I  have  just  given  him.  He  was 
one  of  those  men  who,  when  prosperous,  continually  eat  and 
drink  of  the  best.  A  red  vest  decked  with  silver  buttons 
covered  his  fat  paunch,  and  was  generally  unbuttoned. 

His  name  was  Schmalz,  but  he  had  been  dubbed  Schweit- 
zer-Schmalz,  because  of  his  having  once  said,  "I  do  not 
see  why  we  should  not  be  as  good  as  our  neighbors  the 
Swiss." 

He  hi  ted  the  Prussians ;  first  and  foremost,  for  the  rea- 
son that  t  ic  ought  to  hate  them.  This  is  the  first  article  of 
faith  in  th  catechism  of  the  popular  journals.  And  al- 
though quei.xions  as  to  the  religious  catechism  might  be  tol- 
erated, this  article  must  be  received  without  a  murmur. 
Besides,  *hey  were  impertinent  enough  to  speak  high  Ger- 
man ;  and  he  knew,  moreover,  that  abuse  of  the  Prussians 
was  relished  in  certain  high  quarters. 

He  att  sniped  by  his  boasting  to  provoke  every  one,  and 


WALDFRIED.  35 

was  himself  at  last  provoked  to  find  that  the  whole  world 
laughed  at  him.  He  had  a  habit  of  rattling  the  silver  coins 
in  his  pocket  while  uttering  his  unwelcome  remarks. 

Funk  aided  and  encouraged  him  in  his  swaggering  ways. 
Funk's  other  follower  was  a  lawyer  of  extremely  radical  views. 
Funk  always  acted  as  if  he  were  their  servant,  although, 
as  he  himself  said,  he  was  the  bear-leader. 

In  his  confidential  moments,  he  would  often  "say  :  "  The 
people  is  really  a  stupid  bear  ;  fasten  a  ring  in  its  nose, 
and  you  can  lead  it  about  as  you  would  a  sheep,  and  the  best 
nose-ring  for  your  purpose  is  the  church." 

The  question  of  extending  a  branch  of  the  valley  road  into 
the  neighboring  state,  gave  rise  to  a  lively  debate.  I  de- 
clared that  no  private  association  would  undertake  the  enter- 
prise, unless  interest  on  the  investment  were  guaranteed, 
and  that  I  would  oppose  it,  because  its  promised  advantages 
were  not  sufficient  to  justify  us  in  voting  the  money  of  the 
state  for  the  purpose,  instead  of  spending  our  own. 

The  effect  of  this  was  a  very  perceptible  diminution  of  the 
favor  with  which  I  had  been  regarded.  And  when,  afterward, 
a  vote  of  thanks  to  me  was  proposed,  it  was  coldly  received. 

I  was  just  about  to  descend  from  the  tribune,  when  I  heard 
Funk  say  to  Schmalz,  who  was  sitting  by  his  side,  "  Speak 
out !  It  is  your  own  affair."  Schmalz  now  asked  me  why 
I  had  voted  for  the  abolition  of  the  freedom  of  the  woods, 
or,  in  other  words,  the  privilege  of  gathering  up  the  moss, 
and  the  small  sticks  of  wood  with  which  to  cover  the  floor 
of  the  stables.  To  him  personally  it  was  a  matter  of  little 
concern,  but  humbler  and  poorer  people  could  not  so  well 
afford  to  do  without  it. 

This  gave  rise  to  much  loud  talk.  All  seemed  to  be  speaking 
at  once,  and  saying,  "Such  things  should  not  be  tolerated." 

When  I  at  last  obtained  an  opportunity  to  make  myself 


86  WALDFRIED. 

heard,  I  told  them  that  the  community  had  an  interest  in  the 
preservation  of  the  forests,  and  suggested  that  it  was  neces- 
sary to  seek  other  means  of  gaining  the  object  to  be  attained, 
in  order  that  the  forests  need  not  suffer. 

And  when  I  went  on  to  tell  them  that  we  would  be  un- 
able to  take  proper  care  of  our  forests  until  we  had  a  gen- 
eral law  on  the  subject  applying  to  the  whole  empire,  and 
that  the  lines  separating  our  different  states  ran  through 
the  midst  of  our  woods,  I  heard  some  one  call  out,  "  Of 
course  !  He  owns  forests  on  both  sides  of  the  line."  And 
Schmalz  laughed  out  at  the  top  of  his  voice,  holding  his  fat 
paunch  the  while.  "  What  a  fuss  the  man  is  making  about 
a  few  little  sticks  ! "  he  said. 

I  descended  from  the  tribune,  feeling  that  I  had  not 
convinced  my  constituents. 

At  the  banquet  all  was  life  again.  Herr  Von  Rontheim 
was  among  the  guests.  He  had  courage  enough  to  confess 
to  being  one  of  the  opposition,  of  which  he  had  become  a 
member  against  his  will.  He  was  an  impoverished  member 
of  the  old  nobility.  In  figure  and  in  education  he  seemed 
intended  for  a  courtier.  But  now  he  was  filling  an  office 
that  entailed  much  labor  upon  him.  He  attended  to  his 
duties  punctually  and  carefully,  but  in  a  perfunctory  manner. 
He  had  given  in  his  adhesion  to  the  late  liberal  ministry.  In 
view  of  his  position  at  Court,  this  was  an  ill-considered  step; 
for,  when  the  ministers  were  removed,  he  was  at  once  or- 
dered" to  the  capital,  and  assigned  to  official  duties  that  he 
found  it  hard  to  do  justice  to,  for  his  education  had  better 
fitted  him  for  the  life  of  a  courtier  than  for  that  of  a  pains- 
taking government  deputy. 

Rontheim  sat  beside  me,  and  assured  me  that  the  fall  of 
the  one  man  who  had  been  appointed  minister  to  the  fed- 
eration would  soon  draw  that  of  the  rest  after  him. 


WALDFRIED.  87 

He  spoke  as  if  he  knew  all  about  the  matter,  and  merely 
wanted  to  find  out  how  much  I  knew  on  the  subject.  The 
artifice  was  too  apparent,  however ;  he  knew  just  as  little  as 
I  did.  In  the  course  of  conversation,  he  asserted  that  the 
existence  of  the  lesser  German  States  does  not  find  its  justi- 
fication in  greater  privileges  than  are  accorded  by  the  gen- 
eral government,  but  because  they  can  thus  secure  a  more 
perfect  administration  of  the  minor  details  of  government — 
a  view  on  which  I  had  touched  in  my  report. 

I  was  not  a  little  astonished  when  he  told  me,  in  the 
strictest  confidence,  that  I  had  been  mentioned  at  Court 
with  special  approval.  He  assured  me  that  he  knew  this, 
for  he  had  lots  of  relatives  there.  He  had  indeed  once  been 
called  upon  to  furnish  information  in  regard  to  myself  and 
my  family ;  and  he  felt  assured  that  his  report  had  reached 
the  ears  of  the  Prince.  He  felt  convinced  that,  with  the 
next  decided  turn  in  affairs,  it  would  not  be  my  son  Richard, 
but  myself,  to  whom  an  exalted  position  would  be  offered. 
He  said  that  he  intended  to  report  my  behavior  of  that  very 
day,  in  a  quarter  where  the  courage  which  can  face  popular 
disfavor  would  be  appreciated.  He  treated  me  more  cordi- 
ally than  ever,  and  plainly  signified  that  he  felt  assured  of 
my  good-will. 

I  had  never  given  him  an  occasion  to  joke  with  me,  and 
when  I  replied  that  what  he  had  told  me  was  so  great  a 
surprise  that  I  did  not  know  how  to  answer  him,  he  said 
that  he  fully  appreciated  my  feelings.  He  furnished  me  with 
another  bit  of  information,  which  was  a  much  greater  sur- 
prise. He  told  me  that  my  son  Ernst  had,  but  a  short 
time  before  that,  applied  at  the  office  of  the  kreis-director  * 
for  permission  to  emigrate  to  America,  and  had  requested 

*  Director  or  governor  of  the  district  or  department. 


88  WALDFRIED. 

them  to  furnish  him  with  the  requisite  documents,  at  the 
earliest  possible  moment. 

Ernst  still  owed  two  years  of  military  service,  and  his  re- 
lease could  only  be  effected  as  an  act  of  grace  on  the  part 
of  the  government.  This,  the  director  added,  presented 
no  difficulty,  if  1  chose  to  exert  my  influence.  The  whole 
affair  seemed  a  riddle  to  me. 

Ernst  had,  in  all  likelihood,  committed  this  hasty  action 
during  a  sudden  fit  of  impatience,  and  I  determined  to  re- 
prove him  at  the  first  opportunity.  It  seemed  very  strange 
that  he  should  be  so  careful  to  prevent  me  from  knowing 
of  an  undertaking  which  he  would  be  unable  to  accomplish 
without  my  assistance. 

I  must  have  looked  very  serious,  for  several  old  friends  of 
mine  approached  me  and  assured  me  that  in  spite  of  the 
popular  opposition  they  still  were  true  and  faithful  to  me. 

I  feel  tempted  to  give  the  names  of  a  large  number  of 
wealthy  farmers  and  magistrates,  who  are  of  much  more 
consequence  than  Schweitzer-Schamlz,  and  who  represent 
the  very  backbone  of  our  country  life.  But  when  I  have 
said  that  they  are  conscientious  in  public  affairs  and  just 
and  honorable  in  private  ones,  I  have  told  all  that  is  neces- 
sary. 

Among  the  guests  there  was  the  so-called  "peace  captain," 
a  tall  and  well-dressed  wealthy  young  dealer  in  timber. 
While  still  an  officer,  he  had  fallen  in  love  with  a  daughter 
of  the  richest  saw-mill  owner  in  the  valley.  The  father  re- 
fused his  consent  to  the  marriage  unless  the  lieutenant 
would  give  him  a  written  promise  to  resign  from  the  army  as 
soon  as  a  war  should  break  out  The  lieutenant  did  not 
care  to  do  this  and  preferred  resigning  at  once,  which  he 
did  with  the  rank  of  captain.  He  had  become  quite  con- 
versant with  his  business,  although  there  was  something  in 


WALDFRIED.  89 

his  manner  that  made  it  seem  as  if  he  had  just  laid  off  his 
uniform. 

He  still  retained  one  trait  of  his  military  life,  and  that  was 
an  utter  indifference  to  politics.  It  was  merely  to  honor  me 
that  he  attended  the  banquet ;  and  besides,  was  I  not  the 
father-in-law  of  an  officer  in  active  service  ?  The  cap- 
tain, whose  name  was  Rimminger,  seated  himself  at  my 
side. 


CHAPTER  XVI. 

banquet  seemed  to  be  drawing  to  a  close,  and  con- 
JL  versation  had  become  loud  and  general,  when  we  were 
suddenly  called  to  order  and  told  that  Funk  was  about  to 
address  us.  I  ought  to  mention,  in  passing,  that  Funk 
belonged  to  the  next  district,  and  was  therefore  not  one  of 
our  voters.  He  ascended  the  platform.  He  generally 
seemed  loth  to  ascend  the  tribune ;  but  when  there,  his  flu- 
ent discourse  and  ready  wit  enabled  him  to  control  the  most 
obstinate  audience. 

He  began,  as  usual,  by  saying  that  it  hardly  became  him 
to  speak  on  this  occasion.  He  was  not  a  voter,  and  if  he 
were  to  express  the  praise  and  the  thanks  due  me,  to  whom 
he  owed  his  present  position,  it  might  appear  as  if  he  were 
endeavoring  to  make  his  private  feelings  the  sentiment  of 
the  audience. 

He  repeatedly  referred  to  me  as  the  "estimable  noble 
patriarch,"  and  inveighed  in  fierce  terms  against  those  who 
would,  by  a  vote  of  want  of  confidence,  express  their  disap' 
proval  of  the  actions  of  their  representative,  who  had  fol- 
lowed his  honest  convictions  instead  of  the  opinions  of  this 
or  that  constituent. 

He  then  indulged  in  an  explanation  of  his  reasons  for 
having  voted  with  the  opposition.  He  possessed  the  art  of 
repeating  the  speeches  of  others  as  if  they  were  his  own. 
He  repeatedly  used  the  expression  "  a  free  church  in  a  free 
state,"  and  several  times  used  the  word  "  republic,"  when  he 
would  immediately  correct  himself  in  an  ironical  manner, 
and  to  the  great  delight  of  many  of  his  auditors. 


WALDFRIED.  9! 

Funk's  words  filled  me  with  indignation. 

When  1  beheld  him  standing  up  before  this  audience  and 
expressing  such  sentiments,  I  felt  as  if  it  were  a  punishment 
that  I  had  richly  deserved ;  for  in  his  case  I  had  assisted  a 
man  in  whom  I  had  not  full  confidence,  to  a  position  of 
honor  and  importance.  I  was  so  occupied  with  thoughts  of 
the  speaker  that  I  hardly  noticed  what  he  was  saying,  until 
I  was  aroused  by  hearing  him  defend  me  against  the  charge 
of  being  a  Prussian. 

"  And  even  if  he  were  a  Prussian,  we  should  not  forget 
that  the  Prussians  are  Germans  as  well  as  the  rest  of  us. 
We  are  far  ahead  of  them,  and  for  that  very  reason  it  is  our 
duty  to  help  them."  And  then  he  began  to  praise  me  again, 
and  told  them  what  a  noble  action  it  was  that  a  man  who 
had  a  pastor  for  one  son-in-law,  and  one  of  the  first  nobles 
in  the  land  for  another,  whose  son  was  to-day  a  professor, 
and  might  to-morrow  be  a  minister,  to  receive  into  his 
house  a  girl  who  had  come  to  him  naked  and  destitute. 

Uproarious  laughter  followed  these  words,  and  Funk  ex- 
claimed : 

"  O  you  rogues  !  you  know  well  enough  that  when  I  said 
1  naked  and  destitute,'  I  only  meant/^r  and  without  family 
connections" 

He  described  me  and  my  wife  as  the  noblest  of  beings, 
and  repeatedly  referred  to  Martella. 

I  asked  myself  what  could  have  been  his  reason  for  intro- 
ducing Martella's  name  before  this  audience ;  and  then  it 
occurred  to  me  that  he  had  cherished  hopes  that  my  son 
Ernst  would  have  married  his  daughter,  who  was  at  that 
time  receiving  her  education  at  a  school  in  Strasburg. 

He  closed  by  proposing  cheers  in  my  honor.  They 
were  immediately  followed  by  cries  of  "  Hurrah  for  citizen 
Funk ! »' 


92  WALDFRIED. 

Funk  was  impudent  enough  to  walk  up  to  me  afterwards 
and  offer  me  his  hand,  while  he  assured  me  that  he  had  put 
a  quietus  on  the  opposition  of  the  stupid  bushmen,  a  term 
which  he  was  fond  of  using  when  referring  to  the  farmers. 

I  declined  to  shake  hands,  and  ascended  the  tribune  with- 
out looking  at  him.  "We  have  had  enough  speeches," 
cried  several  of  the  audience,  while  others  began  to  stamp 
their  feet  and  thus  prevent  me  from  speaking.  Silence  was 
at  last  restored,  and  I  began.  I  am  naturally  of  a  timid  dis- 
position, but  when  in  danger,  I  am  insensible  to  fear,  and 
quietly  and  firmly  do  that  which  is  needed. 

I  told  them  that  Herr  Funk  had  spoken  as  if  he  were  a 
friend  of  mine,  but  that  I  here  publicly  declared  that  he  was 
not  my  friend,  and  that  I  was  no  friend  of  his ;  and  that  if  he 
and  his  consorts  really  believed  the  opinions  that  they  pro- 
fessed, I  had  nothing  in  common  with .  them.  For  reasons 
best  known  to  himself,  Herr  Funk  had  dragged  my  family 
affairs  before  the  assembly.  I  was  happy  to  say  that  I  had 
done  nothing  which  I  need  conceal.  And  further,  as  Herr 
Funk  had  found  it  proper  to  defend  me  against  the  charge 
of  being  a  friend  of  Prussia,  I  wished  it  known  that  I  was  a 
friend  of  Prussia,  on  whose  future  course  I  based  all  my 
hopes  for  the  welfare  of  Germany. 

I  should  not  give  up  my  office  until  the  term  for  which  I 
was  elected  expired  :  when  that  time  came*  they  might  re- 
elect  me,  or  replace  me  by  another,  as  they  thought  best. 

Virtuous  indignation  aided  me  in  my  effort,  and  when  I 
finished  my  remarks,  Richard  told  me  that  he  had  never 
heard  me  speak  so  well.  I  am  by  nature  soft-hearted,  per- 
haps indeed  too  much  so ;  but  I  can  deal  unmerciful  blows 
when  they  are  needed.  There  is  an  old  saying  that  a  rider 
should  alight  and  kill  the  mole-cricket  that  he  sees  while 
on  his  way,  for  it  destroys  the  roots  of  the  grass.  It  was  a 


WALDFRIED. 


93 


similar  feeling  that  made  me  refer  to  Funk  in  the  way  I  had 
done. 

To  the  best  of  my  knowledge,  I  had  never  before  that  had 
an  enemy  ;  now  I  knew  that  I  had  one.  And  an  enemy  may 
be  likened  to  a  swamp  with  its  miasmatic  vapors  and  noisome 
vermin.  It  had  been  reserved  for  my  later  years  to  teach 
me  what  it  is  to  have  enemies  and  how  to  meet  their  works. 

The  worst  of  all  is,  that  a  fear  of  committing  injustice 
makes  us  insincere.  And  when  at  last  this  fear  gives  way  to 
one's  horror  of  wickedness,  they  say,  "  He  was  not  truthful ; 
he  was  hypocritical,  and  simulated  friendship  for  one  whom 
he  despised." 

Be  that  as  it  may,  I  was,  at  all  events,  glad  that  I  would 
not  again  have  to  take  Funk  by  the  hand.  It  has  been  my 
great  fault  and  misfortune  that  I  could  never  learn  to  believe 
in  the  utility  of  falsehood.  Perhaps  it  was  nothing  more 
than  a  love  of  comfort  that  actuated  me  ;  for  it  is  very  trou- 
blesome to  be  always  on  one's  guard.  Where  I  might  have 
done  myself  good  through  shrewdness  and  foresight,  I  had 
simply  made  myself  an  object  of  pity. 

It  seemed  that  the  affair  was  not  to  pass  over  without  a 
fracas.  The  anger  which  I  had  controlled  found  vent  through 
another  channel,  none  other  than  Rothfuss. 

I  saw  him  standing  in  the  midst  of  a  crowd,  and  heard 
Schmalz  cry  out,  "  Let  me  talk  ;  I  would  not  soil  my  hands 
to  beat  the  servant  of  that  man  !  " 

"What?"  cried  Rothfuss;  "I  want  nothing  to  do  with 
the  '  fat  Switzer,'  for  wherever  his  shadow  falls  you  can  find 
a  grease-spot." 

Uproarious  laughter  followed  this  sally.  Funk  forced 
himself  into  the  midst  of  the  crowd,  and  placing  himself  be- 
fore Schmalz  called  out,  "  You  had  better  hold  your  tongue, 
Rothfuss,  or  you  will  have  to  deal  with  me." 


94 


WALDFRIED. 


"  With  you  ?  "  said  Rothfuss,  "  with  you  ?  I  have  but  one 
word  to  tell  you." 

"  Out  with  it ! " 

"  Yes,"  said  Rothfuss,  ".I  will  tell  you  something  that  no 
human  being  has  ever  yet  said  to  you." 

"  Out  with  it ! " 

"  What  I  mean  to  tell  you  has  never  before  been  said  to 
you —  You  are  an  honest  man." 

Contemptuous  laughter  and  wild  shouts  followed  this  sally, 
and,  when  it  looked  as  if  blows  were  about  to  fall,  and  the 
kreis-director  approached  and  ordered  them  to  desist,  Roth- 
fuss called  out,  "  Herr  Director,  would  you  call  that  an  in- 
sult? I  said  Herr  Funk  was  an  honest  man.  Is  that  an  in- 
sult?" 

The  officer  succeeded  in  restoring  order  and  we  departed, 
taking  Rothfuss  with  us. 

I  had  paid  the  full  penalty  of  my  acquaintance  with  Funk, 
but  felt  so  much  freer  and  purer  than  when  I  entered  the 
banqueting  room,  that  I  did  not  regret  what  had  occurred. 

Richard  wanted  to  meet  his  train,  and  Joseph  left  for  a 
point  down  the  Rhine  in  order  to  close  a  contract  for  rail- 
road ties.  I  went  to  the  station  with  them,  and  when  the 
train  had  left,  I  accepted  the  invitation  of  Rontheim,  who 
had  walked  down  to  the  railroad  with  us,  and  went  home 
with  him. 


CHAPTER  XVII. 

THERE  are  houses  in  which  you  never  hear  a  loud  word, 
not  because  of  any  previous  agreement  on  the  part  ol 
its  inmates,  but  as  a  natural  result  of  their  character.  He  who 
enters  there  is  at  once  affected,  both  in  mood  and  in  the 
tones  of  his  voice,  by  his  surroundings.  Such  is  the  peace- 
ful household  in  which  kind  and  gentle  aspirations  fill  all 
hearts  and  where  every  one  works  faithfully  in  his  own  allotted 
sphere. 

I  felt  as  if  entering  a  new  and  strange  phase  of  life  when 
Rontheim  ushered  me  into  the  richly  carpeted  and  tastefully 
furnished  drawing-room.  I  was  cordially  received  by  his 
wife,  a  graceful  and  charming  woman,  and  his  two  beautiful 
and  distinguished-looking  daughters. 

Although  in  exile,  as  it  were,  the  mother  and  the  daughters 
had  succeeded  in  creating  a  pure  and  lovely  home,  and  had 
held  aloof  from  the  petty  jealousies  and  small  doings  of  the 
little  town  in  which  they  were  residing.  Although  they  saw 
but  little  company,  they  exchanged  visits  with  some  of  the 
so-called  gentry.  They  had  paid  several  visits  to  our  village, 
and  a  friendly  intimacy  with  my  wife  had  been  the  result. 
She  did  not  allow  this,  however,  to  induce  her  to  visit  the 
town  more  frequently  than  had  been  her  wont.  She  care- 
fully avoided  excursions  of  any  kind,  from  a  fear  that  they 
might  interrupt  the  quiet  tenor  of  her  life  or  render  society 
a  necessity. 

Rontheim' s  wife  and  daughters  had  been  used  to  the  life 
of  a  court,  and  even  now  acted  as  if  with  the  morrow  they 
might  be  recalled  to  court.  When  they  accompanied  the 


C)6  WALDFRIED. 

director,  on  his  fiequent  official  journeys,  they  would  discover 
every  spot  in  which  there  were  natural  beauties.  Scenes  that 
we  had  become  indifferent  to,  through  habit,  or  in  which  we 
saw  nothing  but  the  uses  to  which  they  might  be  put,  had  in 
their  eyes  quite  a  different  meaning.  They  would  spend  whole 
days  in  the  valleys  where  no  one  resorted  but  the  harvesters, 
or  on  the  mountains  where  they  would  meet  no  one  but  the 
foresters.  They  sketched  and  gathered  flowers  and  mosses, 
and  their  tables  and  consoles  were  decorated  with  lovely 
wreaths  of  dried  leaves  and  wild  flowers.  They  would  often 
assist  the  poor  children  who  were  gathering  wild  berries,  and 
show  them  how  to  weave  pretty  baskets  out  of  pine  twigs. 
They  were  in  frequent  intercourse  with  our  schoolmaster's 
wife,  who  was  quite  a  botanist. 

The  second  daughter,  who  was  interested  in  drawing, 
asked  me  about  the  new  paintings  in  the  Parliament  House  ; 
and  the  elder  daughter  jokingly  declared  that  it  was  a  pity 
that  one  could  never  find  out  what  had  been  played  at  the 
theatre  until  the  day  after  the  performance. 

I  was  forcibly  impressed  by  the  evident  effort  with  which 
Herr  Von  Rontheim  endeavored  to  suppress  any  sign  of  a 
consciousness  of  superior  birth.  He  showed  me  a  recently 
restored  picture  of  one  of  his  ancestors,  who  had  been  a  com- 
rade of  Ulrich  Von  Hutten,  and  had  distinguished  himself 
during  the  Reformation.  He  intimated  that  although  the 
noble  families  had  built  up  the  state,  he  cheerfully  admitted 
that  its  preservation  had  fallen  into  other  hands. 

His  kind  manner  did  not  quite  serve  to  veil  a  certain  air 
of  condescension. 

During  the  course  of  our  rather  desultory  conversation, 
Madame  Rontheim  had  rung  for  the  servant,  and  had  given 
her  orders  to  him  in  a  whisper,  of  which  I  heard  the  last 
words,  "  Please  tell  Herr  Ernst  to  come  in." 


WALDFRIED.  97 

The  words  startled  me.     Could  she  have  me;.nt  my  son? 

A  few  moments  afterward,  a  bright-cheeked  and  erect- 
looking  ensign  entered  the  room,  and  saluted  us  in  military 
fashion.  I  had  forgotten  that  Rontheim's  only  son  was  also 
named  Ernst,  and  I -now  recalled  the  fact  of  his  being  in  my 
son-in-law's  regiment.  The  ensign  referred  to  the  fact,  and 
also  told  me  that  all  of  his  comrades  had  regretted  my  son's 
leaving  the  army.  His  constant  flow  of  spirits  and  fertility 
of  invention,  had  won  him  the  admiration  of  all  of  his  com- 
panions. 

Madame  Rontheim  spoke  of.  my  daughter  Bertha  in  the 
kindest  terms,  and  praised  the  tact  she  had  displayed  in  in- 
troducing a  ne\v  element  into  their  circle. 

The  eldest  daughter  ventured  to  speak  in  disparagement 
of  Bertha.' s  friend,  Annette,  but  the  mother  adroitly  changed 
the  subject,  and  began  talking  about  Martella. 

As  I  felt  that,  in  all  probability,  there  had  been  all  sorts 
of  false  tales  in  regard  to  Martella,  I  told  them  her  story. 
When  I  ended,  Madame  Rontheim  said  to  me,  "  In  taking 
such  a  child  of  nature  into  a  well-ordered  and  cultured 
home,  you  have  pursued  the  very  best  plan.  I  feel  assured 
that  the  result  of  your  wife's  quiet  and  sensible  course  will 
both  surprise  and  delight  you.  Pray  tell  your  wife  that  I 
have  for  some  time  intended  to  visit  her,  but  have  concluded 
to  wait  until  it  may  be  convenient  to  her  and  her  charge  to 
receive  me." 

While  seated  with  this  charming  circle  at  their  tea-table — 
an  institution  which  this  family  had  introduced  in  our  forest 
neighborhood — I  had  quite  forgotten  that  Rothfuss  was  out- 
side taking  charge  of  the  sleigh.  But  now  I  heard  the  loud 
crack  of  his  whip,  and  bade  my  hosts  a  hasty  farewell. 

When  I  got  into  the  sleigh,  Rothfuss  said,  "Madame, 
7 


98 


WALDFRIED* 


the  baroness,  has  sent  out  a  hot  jug  as  a  foot-warmer  for 
you." 

On  our  way  down  the  hill,  Rothfuss  walked  at  the  side  of 
the  sleigh,  and  said  to  me,  "  She  sent  me  some  tea :  it  is 
by  no  means  a  cooling  drink,  but  does  not  taste  so  bad  after 
all ;  it  warmed  me  thoroughly.  Before  I  drank  it,  I  felt  as  wet 
as  a  drenched  goat.  Ah,  yes  !  One  of  your  people  of  rank 
is  worth  more  than  seventy-seven  of  your  stupid  voters.  In 
all  of  the  crowd  that  we  met  to-day  there  were  not  a  dozen 
people  with  whom  I  would  care  to  drink  a  glass  of  wine." 

Rothfuss  judged  of  all  persons  by  their  fitness  as  boon 
companions.  He  would  drink  gladly  with  this  one,  but 
would  not  care  to  drink  with  the  next ;  and  he  would  often 
say  that  there  were  some  whose  very  company  sours  the  wine 
they  pay  for. 

I  felt  sure  that  he  had  heard  some  one  abusing  me. 

When  I  left  home  in  the  morning,  I  felt  as  if  supported 
by  the  consciousness  of  the  respect  and  confidence  of  my 
fellow-citizens,  but  now — 

Suddenly  the  remarks  of  the  kreis-director  recurred  to  me. 

Had  the  confidence  of  one  party  been  withdrawn  from  me, 
Decause  it  was  suspected  that  the  others  were  trying  to  lure 
me  to  their  side  ?  I  have  neither  the  desire  nor  the  proper 
qualifications  for  a  more  exalted  position  in  the  service  of 
the  State. 

And  what  could  Ernst's  notion  of  emigrating  have  meant  ? 
"Who  knows,"  thought  I  to  myself,  "  what  I  may  yet  have 
to  witness  on  the  part  of  this  son  who  is  always  flying  the 
track  ?  " 

The  night  was  bitter  cold  ;  the  snow  which  had  melted 
during  the  day  had  frozen  hard,  and  our  sleigh  creaked  and 
rattled  as  we  hurried  along  the  road. 


CHAPTER  XVIII, 

I  HAVE  always  discouraged  a  belief  ir.  omens,  and  yet 
when  I  saw  the  strange  cloud-forms  that  floated  before 
the  face  of  the  moon  that  night,  shadowy  forebodings  filled 
my  soul.  The  ringing  of  the  sleigh-bells  was  full  of  a  strange 
melody,  and,  down  in  the  valley,  I  could  hear  the  raging  of 
the  torrent  which  seemed  as  if  angered  at  the  thought  that 
the  frost  king  would  soon  again  bind  it  with  his  fetters. 

The  sleigh  halted  at  the  saw-mill.  When  I  looked  up 
towards  the  house  I  saw  that  there  was  a  light  in  the  room. 

"What  are  you  doing?"  I  asked  Rothfuss. 

"  I  am  taking  the  bells  off,  so  that  the  mistress  may  not 
hear  us." 

Although  we  had  supposed  that  no  one  had  noticed  our 
coining,  we  heard  soft  steps  advancing  to  meet  us  when  we 
reached  the  house.  Martella  opened  the  door  for  us. 

I  entered  the  room.  It  was  nicely  warmed  and  lighted. 
The  meal  which  had  been  prepared  for  me  was  still  on  the 
table. 

Rothfuss  drew  off  his  boots  and  went  off  to  his  room  on 
tiptoe. 

"  Do  you  not  want  to  go  to  bed,  Martella  ?  Have  you 
been  sitting  up  all  this  time  ?  " 

"  Indeed  I  have  ;  and  oh,  do  take  it  from  me  ! " 

"  What  ails  you  ?  " 

"  Oh,  what  a  night  I  have  passed  !  I  do  not  know  how  it 
all  came  about;  but  mother  had  gone  to  bed,  and  I  sat 
here  quite  alone  in  this  great,  big  house.  I  looked  at  the 


100  WALDFRIED. 

meal  that  was  waiting  for  our  master; — at  the  bread  that 
had  once  been  grain,  the  meat  that  had  once  been  alive, 
and  the  wine  that  had  once  been  grapes  in  the  vineyard. 

"  It  seemed  to  me  as  if  the  fields  and  the  beasts  all  came 
up  to  me  and  asked,  '  Where  are  you  ?  What  has  become 
of  you?'  And  then  I  could  not  help  thinking  to  myself, 
'  You  have  so  many  people  here — a  father,  a  mother,  one 
brother  who  is  so  learned,  and  another  who  is  in  another 
world,  a  sister  who  is  a  major's  wife,  and  one  who  is  a  pas- 
tor's, and  besides  this,  my  own  Ernst;  and  all  these  say: 
"  We  are  yours  and  you  are  ours."  '  When  I  thought  of  that, 
I  felt  so  happy  and  yet  so  sad.  And  then  the  two  clocks 
kept  up  their  incessant  ticking.  It  seemed  as  if  they  were 
talking  to  me  all  the  time.  The  fast  one  said  to  me, 
'  How  did  you  get  here,  you  simple,  forlorn  child,  whom 
they  found  behind  the  hedge  ?  Run  away  as  fast  as  you 
can !  Run  away !  you  cannot  stay  here ;  you  must  go 
off.  All  these  people*  about  you  have  made  a  prisoner  of 
you ;  they  feel  kindly  towards  you,  but  you  cannot  stay. 
Run,  run  away  !  Run,  child,  run  ! ' 

"  But  the  other  clock,  with  its  quiet  and  steady  tick,  would 
always  say,  '  Be  thankful,  be  thankful,  be  thankful !  You 
are  snugly  housed  with  kindly  hearts ;  do  what  you  can  to 
earn  their  kindness  by  your  goodness.' 

"They  kept  it  up  all  the  time.  All  at  once  I  heard  the 
cry  of  an  owl.  I  had  often  heard  them  in  the  forest,  and  I 
am  not  afraid  of  any  of  the  birds  or  beasts.  Then  the  owl 
went  away  and  all  was  still.  I  don't  know  how  it  happened, 
but  all  at  once  I  thought  of  summer  and  cried  out  *  Cuckoo  ! ' 
quite  loud.  I  was  frightened  at  the  sound  of  my  own  voice, 
for  fear  that  I  might  wake  up  the  mistress  ;  and  when  I  thought 
of  that  I  felt  as  if  I  could  die  for  grief.  And  then  again  I  felt 
so  happy  to  think  that  the  heart  that  was  sleeping  there  was 


WALDFRIED.  IOI 

one  that  had  taken  me  up  as  its  own.  When  the  large 
clock  would  say  '  Quite  right,  quite  right/  the  busy  little 
one  would  interrupt  with  'Stupid  stuff,  stupid  stuff;  run 
away,  run  away  ! ' 

"  When  the  hour  struck  midnight,  I  opened  the  window  and 
looked  out  towards  the  graveyard.  I  am  no  longer  afraid 
of  it ;  the  dead  lie  there ;  they  are  now  resting  and  were  once 
just  as  happy  and  just  as  sad  as  I  now  am. 

"  I  do  not  know  how  all  these  things  should  have  come 
into  my  mind.  I  felt  cheered  up  at  last,  and  closed  the 
window.  Everything  seemed  so  lovely  in  the  room,  and  I 
felt  as  if  I  were  at  home.  At  home  in  eternity,  and  could 
now  die.  I  did  not  fear  death.  I  had  fared  so  well  in  the 
world — better  than  millions — and  master,"  said  she,  kneel- 
ing down  before  me  and  clasping  my  knee,  "  I  will  surely 
do  all  in  my  power  to  deserve  this  happiness.  If  I  only 
knew  of  something  good  and  hard  that  I  might  do.  Tell 
me  if  there  is  such  a  thing ;  I  will  do  it  gladly." 

It  seemed  that  night  as  if  an  inexhaustible  spring  had 
begun  to  bubble  up  in  the  heart  of  the  child. 

She  sat  down  quite  near  me  and  told  me,  with  a  pleased 
smile,  that  mother  had  bidden  her  to  go  to  bed ;  but  that 
she  had  stealthily  gotten  up,  had  sent  Balbina,  the  servant, 
to  bed,  and  had  herself  watched  for  me ;  and  that  she  now 
felt  as  if  she  did  not  care  to  sleep  again. 

"  I  am  living  in  eternity,  and  in  eternity  there  is  no  sleep," 
she  repeated  several  times. 

The  child  was  so  excited  that  I  thought  it  best  to  engage 
her  mind  in  some  other  direction.  I  asked  her  about  Ernst's 
plan  of  emigration.  She  told  me  that  he  had  had  that  in 
view  some  time  ago,  but  had  now  given  up  the  idea. 

We  remained  together  for  some  time  longer,  and  when  I 


IO2  WALDFR1ED. 

told  her  that  she  should  always  call  me  father  now,  she  cried 
out  with  a  happy  voice  : 

"That  fills  my  cup  of  joy  !  Now  I  shall  go  to  bed.  He 
whom  you  have  once  addressed  as  *  father '  can  never  find 
it  in  his  heart  to  send  you  out  into  the  world.  I  shall  stay 
here  until  they  carry  me  over  to  the  graveyard  yonder ;  but 
may  it  be  a  long  while  before  that  happens  !  Father,  good 
night ! " 

How  strange  things  seem  linked  together  !  On  the  very 
day  that  Funk  had  so  unfeelingly  dragged  the  child's  name 
before  the  public,  her  heart  had  awakened  to  a  grateful  sense 
of  the  world's  kindness. 


CHAPTER  XIX. 

XT  OTHING  so  nerves  a  man  for  the  battle  with  the 
.1  N|  outer  world  as  the  consciousness  of  his  having  a 
pleasant  home, — not  merely  a  large  and  finely  arranged 
household,  but  a  home  in  which  there  reigns  an  atmosphere 
of  hope  and  affection,  and  where,  in  days  of  sorrow,  that 
which  is  best  in  us  is  met  by  the  sympathy  of  those  who 
surround  us.  Through  Gustava,  all  this  fell  to  my-  lot. 
Although  the  battle  with  the  world  would,  at  times,  almost 
render  me  distracted,  she  would  again  restore  my  wonted 
spirits  ;  and  it  is  to  her  faithful  and  affectionate  care  that  I 
ascribe  the  fact  that  the  long  struggle  did  not  exhaust  me. 
She  judged  of  men  and  actions  with  never-failing  equanim- 
ity, and  her  very  glances  seemed  to  beautify  what  they 
rested  upon.  Where  I  could  see  naught  but  spite  or  malice, 
she  only  beheld  the  natural  selfishness  of  beings  in  whom 
education  and  morals  had  not  yet  gained  complete  ascend- 
ancy. 

She  judged  everything  by  her  own  lofty  standard,  but 
strange  to  say,  instead  of  belittling  men,  this  seemed  to 
make  them  appear  better.  When  she  found  that  she  could 
not  avoid  assenting  to  evil  report  in  regard  to  any  one,  she 
did  so  with  an  humble  air  that  plainly  signified  how  grieved 
she  was  that  men  could  be  thus. 

Speaking  of  Funk,  she  would  say,  "  I  have  no  desire  to 
nurt  any  one's  feelings.  In  nature  there  is  nothing  that  can 
properly  be  called  aristocratic.  In  botany  the  nettle  is  re- 
lated to  hemp  and  to  hops;  and  if  Funk  seems  to  have 


104  WALDFRIED. 

somewhat  of  the  nettle  in  his  composition,  one  should  be 
careful  to  handle  him  tenderly,  and  thus  avoid  pricking  one's 
fingers." 

It  was  during  that  very  winter,  in  1866,  that  the  purity 
and  dignity  that  were  inborn  with  her  seemed  more  than 
ever  infused  with  new  and  added  grace.  She  always  lived 
as  if  in  a  higher  presence. 

It  soon  proved  that  my  anticipations  of  evil  were  over- 
wrought. My  compatriots  were,  for  the  greater  part,  in 
accord  with  me.  On  every  hand  I  received  assurances  of 
that  fact ;  and,  above  all,  Joseph  omitted  no  opportunity  of 
repeating  to  me  the  respectful  terms  in  which  he  had  heard 
my  name  mentioned  among  the  people.  I  really  think  that 
he  was  instrumental  in  causing  others  to  bring  these  good 
reports  to  my  notice.  Martella  had  become  the  blessing,  the 
life  and  the  light,  I  may  say,  of  our  house.  Her  readiness 
to  oblige,  her  adaptability  and  her  desire  for  self-improve- 
ment, had  so  increased  that  we  felt  called  upon  to  restrain 
rather  than  to  urge  their  exercise. 

My  wife  had  learned  of  Funk's  attempt  to  injure  us  by 
dragging  the  child's  name  into  publicity.  Perhaps  the  news 
had  been  carried  even  further ;  for  a  letter  reached  us  from 
my  daughter,  the  pastor's  wife,  in  which  she  informed  us  that 
the  illness  of  her  husband  made  such  demands  upon  her 
time  that  she  required  an  assistant  about  the  house,  and 
desired  us  to  send  Martella  to  her.  She  added  that  her  hus- 
band joined  her  in  this  wish,  because  it  seemed  improper  that 
Martella  should  remain  in  our  house  any  longer.  My  wife 
was  not  unwilling  to  send  Martella  to  her  for  a  while ;  but  I 
insisted  that  she  should  stay  with  us  in  spite  of  all  idle  talk. 

About  that  time  we  received  letters  from  the  major  and 
from  Richard,  both  of  whom  wrote  without  the  other's  knowl- 
edge, and  to  the  eifect  that  Prussia's  proposal  to  the  German 


WALDFR1ED. 

Diet  might  lead  to  a  conflict,  the  consequences  of  which  it 
was  impossible  to  foretell.  Thus  public  and  private  affairs 
kept  us  in  unusual  excitement,  when  an  unexpected  event 
claimed  our  attention. 

A  rumor  had  long  been  current  in  our  family  that  we  had 
relatives  of  high  rank  living  in  Vienna.  Up  to  the  year 
1805,  our  village  and  the  whole  district  had  belonged  to 
Austria.  All  of  the  more  ambitious  and  talented  among  our 
people  had  been  drawn  to  Vienna,  either  by  their  own  desire 
to  advance  themselves,  or  by  the  inducements  the  govern- 
ment held  out  to  them ;  for  it  was  the  constant  aim  of  Aus- 
tria to  gain  the  attachment  of  the  landed  interests. 

At  the  beginning  of  the  last  century,  an  uncle  of  my 
father  had  moved  to  the  Imperial  city,  where  he  attained  a 
high  position.  He  had  embraced  the  Catholic  religion,  and 
had  been  ennobled.  Ernst,  who  always  called  that  branch 
of  the  family  "  the  root  brood,"  had  long  cherished  the  plan 
of  hunting  up  our  relatives,  in  the  hope  of  thus  finding  a 
better  opening  for  himself. 

Towards  spring  we  received  a  visit  from  our  neighbor, 
Baron  Arven.  He  was  accompanied  by  a  young  bridal 
couple.  He  introduced  the  husband,  who  was  an  officer  at 
the  garrison  of  Mayence,  as  a  relative  of  mine.  The  wife 
belonged  to  the  family  of  the  Baroness  Arven,  and  was  from 
Bohemia.  They  seemed  sociable  and  charming  people,  and 
both  sides  were  inclined  to  make  friends  with  each  other, 
but  without  success.  Our  thoughts  and  feelings  were  pitched 
in  different  keys. 

The  young  couple  left  us  in  order  to  repair  to  the  capital. 
On  their  departure,  I  gave  them  a  letter  to  Bertha,  and  the 
Major.  They  wrote  to  me  in  the  kindest  manner,  and  re- 
marked that  they  would  be  pleased  if  Ernst  could  assume  the 
charge  of  the  forests  on  their  estate  in  Moravia. 


CHAPTER  XX. 

SPRING  had  come,  and  the  air  was  filled  with  the  resin- 
ous  odor  of  the  pines.  I  was  sitting  by  the  open  win- 
dow, and  reading  in  a  newspaper  that  Bismarck  had  asked  the 
Diet  for  a  constituent  national  assembly,  to  be  voted  for 
directly  by  the  people.  Could  it  be  possible  ?  I  took  up 
the  country  journals :  they  reviled  this  proposal,  and  could 
not  conceal  their  fear  that  the  most  powerful  weapon  of  the 
revolutionary  party  had  been  destroyed. 

While  I  was  sitting  there,  buried  in  thought,  I  heard  a  rider 
rapidly  approaching.  It  was  Ernst.  He  hurriedly  greeted 
us,  and  showed  us  an  order  recalling  him  to  his  regiment. 

Martella  cried  out  aloud.  Ernst  pacified  her.  He  told  us 
that  he  was  no  longer  a  subject  of  this  country.  He  had 
given  notice  of  his  intention  to  emigrate,  and  that  would  pro- 
tect him.  It  was  spring-time,  and  the  best  season  of  the  year 
to  go  forth  into  the  wide  world.  I  could  only  tell  him  that 
I  doubted  whether  he  would  be  allowed  to  leave  the  confed- 
eration. 

"  Confederation  ! "  he  exclaimed ;  "  what  a  glorious  name  ! " 

He  gave  me  a  look  that  I  shall,  alas !  never  forget.  He 
seemed  to  be  collecting  his  senses,  and  as  if  struggling  with 
his  thoughts,  and  then  said  :  "  As  far  as  I  am  concerned,  my 
life  is  of  no  consequence  to  me.  But,  father,  there  will  be 
war,  in  which  what  the  books  call  Germans  will  be  fighting 
against  Germans.  Have  you  raised  me  for  this  ?  Is  this  all 
that  you  are  in  the  world  for — that  your  son  should  perish, 
or  even  conquer,  in  a  war  between  brethren  ?  Either  issue 


WALDFRIED. 


107 


is  equally  disgraceful.     I  do  not  know  what  I  would  noi 
rather  do  than  take  part  in  that." 

I  endeavored  to  pacify  Ernst,  and  told  him  that  these  were 
diplomatic  quarrels,  that  would  not  lead  so  far  after  all. 
I  could  not  conceive  of  the  possibility  of  war.  However,  I 
consented  to  Ernst's  request  to  accompany  him  to  the  bor- 
ough town,  in  order  to  confer  with  the  kreis-director  in  re- 
gard to  the  steps  that  were  necessary.  I  sincerely  hoped  to 
obtain  further  particulars  there,  and  felt  that  all  would  again 
be  peacefully  arranged. 

My  wife  had  sent  for  Joseph  and  had  asked  him  to  accom- 
pany us,  for  she  saw  how  fearfully  excited  Ernst  was,  and 
desired  us  to  have  a  mediator  with  us. 
She  judged  wisely. 

"  I  shall  return  to-morrow,"  said  Ernst  to  Martella,  when 
all  was  ready  for  our  departure. 

"  And  if  you  do  not  return  to-morrow,"  she  answered, 
"  and  even  if  you  must  go  to  war  at  once,  nothing  will  hap- 
pen to  you.  You  are  the  cleverest  of  all ;  and  if  you  care  to 
become  a  major,  do  so ;  and  I  shall  learn  how  to  be  a  ma- 
jor's wife — for  I  can  learn  anything." 

She  was  wondrously  cheerful ;  she  seemed  to  have  van- 
quished her  fears,  and  thus,  both  for  herself  and  Ernst,  light- 
ened the  pain  of  parting. 

Joseph  informed  me  that  Funk  was  everywhere  joyously 
proclaiming  that  noxv  at  last  the  crash  must  come,  and  that 
proud  Prussia  with  its  Junkers  would  be  cut  to  pieces,  or, 
to  use  his  own  words,  demolished.  Ernst  beat  the  bays  so 
unmercifully  and  drove  so  furiously,  that  I  ordered  him  to 
halt,  and  insisted  on  Joseph's  taking  the  reins.  Ernst,  in  a 
sullen  mood,  seated  himself  beside  me. 

In  the  valley  we  a  saw  lumber  wagon  halting  on  the  road, 
and  from  afar  recognized  the  horses  as  Joseph's. 


108  WALDFRIED. 

Carl,  a  servant  of  Joseph's,  and  son  to  the  spinner  who 
lived  up  on  the  rock,  was  surrounded  by  a  group  of  raftsmen, 
woodsmen,  and  teamsters,  who  were  all  gesticulating  in  the 
wildest  manner. 

We  halted  as  soon  as  we  reached  the  team.  Carl,  a  hand- ' 
some,  light-haired  fellow,  with  a  cheerful  face  and  good- 
natured  eyes,  came  up  to  us  and  told  us  that  this  would  be 
his  last  load ;  he  had  been  summoned  as  a  conscript,  and 
would  have  to  leave  that  very  evening  and  walk  all  night,  in 
order  to  reach  the  barracks  in  time. 

The  old  meadow  farmer,  who  had  joined  the  crowd  ex- 
claimed, "Yes,  Napoleon  is  master.  When  he  fiddles,  Prus- 
sia and  Austria  must  dance  as  he  chooses,  and  the  small  folk 
will  soon  follow  suit.  Yes,  there  is  a  Napoleon  in  the 
world  again.  I  knew  the  old  one." 

We  did  not  think  it  necessary  to  answer  the  man.  While 
Joseph  was  giving  his  servant  money  to  use  by  the  way, 
others  approached  and  declared  that  they,  too,  had  been  con- 
scripted, and  requested  us  to  tell  them  why  there  was  war. 

"You  simple  rogues,"  cried  out  Ernst,  "  that  is  none  of 
your  business  !  If  you  didn't  wish  it,  there  could  be  no  war. 
You  are  fools,  fearful  fools,  if  you  obey  the  conscription ! " 

I  snatched  the  whip  from  Joseph's  hand,  and  beat  the 
horses  furiously  while  I  called  out  to  the  crowd : 

"  He  was  only  joking  !  " 

Joseph  assumed  the  task  of  bringing  Ernst  to  reason.  He 
declared  that  if  I  had  not  been  present,  he  would  have 
written  the  answer  that  Ernst  deserved  in  his  face.  • 

"  Do  so,  you  trusty  Teuton  !  "  replied  Ernst. 

Speedily  controlling  himself,  Joseph  added,  "  Forgive  me ; 
but  you  are  most  exasperating.  How  can  you  bear  to  drag 
yourself  and  your  father  to  the  very  brink  of  ruin  with  such 
idle  speeches  ?  You  are  unworthy  of  such  a  father." 


WALDFRIED. 


109 


"  Or  of  such  a  Fatherland,"  answered  Ernst. 

I  felt  so  oppressed  that  I  could  hardly  breathe. 

We  rode  on  for  a  little  while,  and  at  last  Ernst  inquired,  in 
a  submissive  tone,  "  Will  you  permit  me  to  smoke  a  cigar  ?  " 
I  nodded  approval,  and  from  that  time  until  we  reached  the 
town,  not  a  word  was  uttered. 

On  the  road  that  led  up  to  the  kreis-di rector's  house,  we 
saw  the  young  iron  merchant,  Edvvard  Levi,  an  honorable  and 
well-educated  young  man.  He  was  standing  at  the  door  of 
his  warehouse,  and  saluted  us  in  military  fashion. 

Ernst  beckoned  to  him  to  approach. 

'•  Have  you  not  already  received  your  discharge  ?  " 

"  I  have ;  and  you,  I  suppose,  will  now  soon  be  an  offi- 
cer?" 

"  So  I  have  heard." 

We  reached  the  director's  house.  The  director  could  of 
course  only  confirm  the  fact  that  Ernst's  notice  of  his  inten- 
tion to  emigrate  was  as  yet  without  legal  effect.  He  furnished 
us  with  a  certified  copy  of  it,  and  added  that  he  might  be 
able  to  procure  Ernst's  discharge  ;  but  that,  at  all  events, 
Ernst  would  be  obliged  for  the  present  to  join  the  troops. 

Rontheim  believed  that  war  was  imminent,  and  I  could 
not  help  noticing  an  expression  of  deep  emotion  in  the  feat- 
ures of  the  man  whose  face  was  always  veiled  in  diplomatic 
serenity.  In  those  days  I  heard  the  sad  question  which  so 
often  afterward  would  seem  to  rend  our  hearts  : 

"  What  will  become  of  Germany — what  will  become  of  the 
world— if  Austria  be  successful  ?" 

I  could  easily  see  that  it  was  as  painful  to  him  as  it  was 
to  me  to  have  a  son  go  forth  to  war. 

On  our  way  down  the  steps  we  met  the  director's  daughter. 

She  extended  her  hand  to  Ernst,  while  she  said,  "  I  con- 
gratulate you." 


1 10 


WALDFRIED. 


"  For  what,  may  I  inquire  ?  '* 

"  Your  betrothal." 

"Ah,  yes;  I  thank  you." 

"  I  presume  your  intended  is  full  of  sad  thoughts  now." 

"  She  does  not  do  much  thinking  on  the  subject." 

"  Is  your  nephew  obliged  to  join  the  army  ?" 

"  My  nephew !     Who  can  you  mean  ?  " 

"  Julius  Linker,"  blushingly  answered  the  young  girl. 

"  No  ;  he  is  not  yet  liable  to  military  duty." 

"  Will  you  be  good  enough  to  give  my  kindest  greetings 
to  my  brother  ?  " 

"  With  pleasure." 

On  our  way  Ernst  seemed  quite  amused,  and  indulged  in 
jokes  at  the  thought  of  Julius'  being  such  a  child  of  fortune. 
His  life  was  evidently  moving  in  a  smooth  current,  for  the 
half-fledged  youth  had  already  been  lucky  enough  to  win  the 
love  of  so  charming  a  girl. 

I  felt  quite  reassured  to  find  that  Ernst's  thoughts  had 
taken  another  direction.  He  emphatically  declared  himself 
ready  to  join  his  regiment,  and  asked  me  to  let  him  have 
some  money.  He  thought  there  was  no  need  of  my  accom- 
panying him  to  the  capital,  but  I  felt  loth  to  leave  him,  and, 
although  I  should  not  have  done  so,  I  promised  to  endeavor 
to  procure  his  discharge. 

We  again  met  Joseph,  who  expressed  his  regret  that  the 
conscription  of  his  valuable  servant  Carl  would  oblige  him 
to  return  to  his  home,  for  he  had  intended  to  accompany 
us  to  the  capital. 

It  was  necessaiy  for  him,  however,  to  go  to  the  fortiess, 
for  he  had  accepted  a  contract  to  furnish  fence  rails. 

Joseph  is  a  very  active  patriot,  but  he  is  quite  as  active  as 
a  business  man.  He  has  the  art  of  combining  both  func- 
tions, and  Richard  once  said  of  him  with  justice  :  "  With 


WALDFRIED. 


Ill 


Joseph,  everything  is  a  stepping  stone,  and  all  events  con- 
tribute to  the  success  of  his  business  plans." 

We  were  seated  in  the  garden  of  the  Wild  Man  Tavern, 
when  we  heard  a  great  uproar  in  front  of  the  house  of  Kramm- 
kopf,  the  lumber  merchant. 

A  company  of  conscripts  had  marched  up  before  the 
house,  in  which  there  resided  a  young  man  who  had  pur- 
chased his  discharge  from  military  service,  and  they  cursed 
and  swore  that  they  who  were  poor  were  obliged  to  go  to 
war,  while  the  rich  ones  could  remain  at  home. 

Joseph,  who  recognized  many  of  his  workmen  among  the 
young  folks,  succeeded  in  pacifying  them. 

We  accompanied  Ernst  to  the  railway.  At  the  depot  I 
found  Captain  Rimminger,  the  lumber  merchant,  who  was 
just  superintending  the  loading  of  some  planks.  When  I  told 
him  that  he  ought  to  feel  glad  that  he  was  no  longer  a  soldier, 
he  silently  nodded  assent.  He  did  not  utter  a  word,  for  he 
was  always  exceedingly  careful  to  avoid  committing  himself. 

At  the  depot  we  saw  conscripts  who  were  shouting  and 
cheering,  mothers  who  were  weeping,  and  fathers  who  bit 
their  lips  to  control  their  emotion. 

At  every  station  where  Ernst  left  the  train,  I  feared  that  he 
would  not  come  back  ;  but  he  did  return  and  sat  by  my  side 
quietly,  speaking  only  in  reply  to  my  questions.  For  a  while 
he  would  sit  absorbed  in  thought,  and  then  he  would  stand 
up  and  lean  against  the  side  of  the  railway  coach,  in  which 
position  he  would  remain  immovable.  I  felt  much  grieved 
that  the  -heart  of  this  child  had  become  a  mystery  to  me. 

We  arrived  at  the  capital.  I  had  lost  sight  of  Ernst  in 
the  crowd,  but  afterwards  found  him  talking  with  the  ensign, 
the  director's  son.  Ernst  desired  to  go  to  the  barracks  at 
once.  I  accompanied  him  to  the  gate,  which  he  entered 
without  once  turning  to  look  back. 


CHAPTER  XXI. 

I  REMAINED  standing  near  the  gate  and  saw  constant 
arrivals  of  more  young  men.  Men  and  women  desired 
to  accompany  them  inside  the  barracks,  but  were  always  or- 
dered back  by  the  guard. 

Carl,  the  son  of  the  spinner  who  lived  on  the  rock,  was 
also  among  the  arrivals.  Without  any  solicitation  on  my 
part,  he  promised  to  keep  an  eye  on  Ernst. 

It  had  become  night ;  the  gas-lamps  were  lit,  and  yet  I 
stood  there  so  buried  in  thought,  that  the  lamp-lighter  was 
obliged  to  tell  me  to  move  on. 

There  I  was,  in  the  capital  in  which  there  lived  so  many 
of  my  friends,  and  my  own  child ;  indeed,  two  of  my  children. 

Where  should  I  go  first  ?  Our  club-house  was  in  the 
vicinity,  and  I  went  there.  They  praised  me  for  having 
come  so  soon,  for  while  I  had  been  at  the  borough  town  they 
had  telegraphed  for  me. 

They  were  in  hourly  expectation  of  a  government  order, 
convoking  the  Parliament.  What  we  were  expected  to  discuss 
no  one  knew ;  but  every  one  felt  that  it  was  necessary  for 
us  to  assemble.  I  could  not  bring  myself  to  believe  that 
war  was  really  possible,  and  there  were  many  who  shared 
my  opinion. 

Funk  was  there  also.  He  offered  me  his  hand  in  a  care- 
less manner,  and,  feeling  that  in  such  times  enmity  should 
be  at  an  end,  I  shook  hands  with  him. 

Funk  rejoiced  that  the  grand  crash  was  at  last  to  come. 
Prussia  would  have  to  be  beaten  to  pieces,  and  a  federation 
founded ;  for  the  present,  with  a  monarchical  head. 


WALDFRIED.  II3 

The  minister,  who  was  well  known  as  an  arch-en  smy  of 
Prussia,  had  sent  word  to  the  committee  of  our  party  that 
he  would  come  to  us  that  same  evening,  and  bring  the  order 
convoking  us  with  him.  He  did  not  come  in  person,  but 
contented  himself  with  sending  the  written  order.  Of  what 
use  could  we  be  when  the  harm  had  already  been  done. 
What  were  we  ?  Nothing  but  a  flock  without  any  will  of 
our  own. 

I  went  to  Bertha's  house.  I  found  her  alone  ;  her  husband 
was  at  his  post,  busy  day  and  night.  It  had  suddenly  been 
discovered  that  the  troops  were  not  fully  prepared. 

I  had  not  been  there  long,  before  her  friend  Annette  en- 
tered, from  whom  as  usual  I  was  obliged  to  endure  much 
praise.  Annette  found  it  quite — she  was  about  to  say 
"  patriarchal,"  but  checked  herself  in  time — that  I  had  come 
to  assist  Bertha. 

"Only  think  of  it,"  she  continued,  putting  all  her  remarks 
in  the  form  of  questions,  as  was  her  wont :  "  Would  you  have 
thought  that  Bertha  would  be  much  less  resigned  than  I  ?  I 
have  always  wished  that  I  might  be  so  gentle  and  self-con- 
trolled as  Bertha ;  and  now  I  am  the  quieter  of  the  two. 
Have  I  not  as  much  love  for  my  husband  as  any  woman  can 
have  for  hers?  Have  I  not  given  up  everything  for  his 
sake  ?  Now  I  say  to  myself,  '  Did  you  not  know  what  you 
were  doing  when  you  married  a  soldier  ?  Is  the  uniform 
merely  for  the  parade  and  the  court  ball  ?  Therefore,  rest 
content.  In  this  world  everything  must  be  paid  for.  It  is 
necessary  to  accept  the  consequences  of  one's  actions.'  Am 
I  right  or  wrong  ?  " 

Annette  always  closed  with  a  note  of  interrogation,  and  of 
course  I  was  obliged  to  respond  affirmatively. 

Bertha  smiled  sadly,  and  said  in  a  weary  voice  :  "  Yes, 
father,  I  must  admit  it ;  I  have  always  thought  that  war  was 
8 


H4  WALDFRIED. 

one  of  those  things  of  which  one  only  learned  in  the  hour 
devoted  at  school  to  history.  I  only  knew  of  the  Punic 
wars  and  the  Peloponnesian  war — for  we  never  got  as  far  as 
modern  history — and  thought  of  these  things  as  of-what  had 
once  been.  But  I  honestly  admit  that  I  did  not  think  they 
would  come  to  pass  again  in  our  time." 

"Just  think  of  it,  Bertha,"  said  Annette,  while  she  drew  a 
thick  volume  from  her  satchel,  "  this  is  the  Bible.  You 
know  that  I  never  take  quotations  at  second-hand,  but  pre- 
fer looking  them  up  myself.  This  morning  while  the  hair- 
dresser was  with  me,  it  occurred  to  me  that  the  Bible  says 
the  wife  should  leave  her  father  and  her  mother  for  his  sake. 
So  I  sent  for  the  Bible,  the  very  one  that  the  dowager  prin- 
cess presented  me  with  when  I  was  christened.  I  hunted 
up  the  passage,  but  what  did  I  find  ?  Why,  that  for  this  the 
'man  would  leave  his  father  and  mother,' — the  man.  Now 
just  look,  it  says  the  man  ;  and  why  should  it  say  the  man  ? 
He  is  not  a  domestic  plant,  like  us  girls  ! " 

The  vivacity  of  the  pretty  and  graceful  woman  cheered 
me,  and  I  must  admit  that  from  that  time  my  opinion  of  An- 
nette changed.  She  seems  imbued  with  much  of  that  power 
of  self-reliance  which  is  a  peculiar  characteristic  of  the  Je^vs  ; 
they  are  nothing  by  inheritence,  and  are  obliged  to  make 
themselves  what  they  are. 

But  Annette  seemed  to  guess  at  my  silent  thoughts,  and 
continued,  "  Do  not  praise  me,  I  beg  of  you  !  I  do  not  de- 
serve it.  I  am  quite  different  when  I  am  alone  ;  then  I  am 
tormented  with  horrible  fancies.  And  let  me  tell  you, 
Bertha,  when  our  husbands  leave,  you  must  keep  me  with 
you.  I  cannot  be  alone.  I  am  beginning  to  hate  my  piano 
already.  I  do  not  go  into  the  room  in  which  it  stands.  Ah, 
here  come  our  husbands  !  " 


WALD  FRIED.  U^ 

We  heard  advancing  steps.  The  Major  entered,  and 
greeted  me  politely,  but  seemed  quite  gloomy. 

I  told  him  that  I  had  brought  Ernst. 

"  I  hope  he  will  do  himself  credit,"  said  the  Major  in  a 
hard  voice. 

I  told  him  that  the  Parliament  was  about  to  reassemble, 
whereupon  the  Major  with  great  emphasis  said,  "  Dear  father, 
I  beg  of  you  do  not  let  us  talk  politics  now.  I  have  the 
greatest  respect  for  your  patriotism,  your  liberalism,  and  for 
all  your  opinions.  But  now  it  is  my  uniform  alone  that 
speaks ;  what  is  inside  of  it  has  not  a  word  to  say." 

He  pressed  both  hands  to  his  heart,  and  continued  : 

"  Pshaw  !  I,  too,  once  believed  in  '  German  unity,'  as  they 
are  fond  of  calling  it,  ......  and  even  had  hopes  of  Prus- 
sia. But  now  we  will  show  these  impudent,mustachioed  Prus- 
sian gentlemen  what  we  are  made  of." 

I  was  careful  not  to  reply  to  his  remarks,  in  which  I  could 
easily  notice  the  struggle  that  was  going  on  within  him.  He 
was  on  duty ;  and  it  is  wrong  to  talk  to  a  man  who  is  at 
his  post. 

What  sort  of  a  war  is  it  in  which  they  know  no  other  cry 
but  "  Let  us  show  them  what  we  are  made  of!  " 

And  if  the  victory  is  achieved,  what  then  ?  An  invisible 
demon  sat  crouching  on  the  knapsack  of  every  soldier, 
making  his  load  heavier  by  a  hundred-fold. 

We  seated  ourselves  at  the  table.  The  Major  seemed  to 
feel  that  he  had  been  harsh  towards  me,  and  was  now  partic- 
ularly polite.  He  asked  about  mother,  Martella,  and  Roth- 
fuss.  He  told  us  that  he  had  that  day  heard  from  our  newly 
discovered  cousin,  in  a  letter  from  Mayence,  in  which  he 
had  expressed  the  hope  that  they  might  stand  side  by  side 
on  the  battle-field,  and  thus  again  become  bound  to  each 
other. 


U(5  WALDFRIED. 

The  Major  had  nothing  more  to  say.  He  poured  out  a 
glass  of  wine  for  me,  and  drank  my  health  in  silence.  An- 
nette used  every  exertion  to  dispel  the  dark  cloud  under 
which  we  were  laboring. 

She  asserted  that  her  saddle  horse  seemed  to  know  that  it 
would  soon  be  led  forth  to  battle,  and  told  us  a  number  of 
marvellous  stories  about  that  clever  animal.  She  was  very  fond 
of  telling  anecdotes,  and  had  considerable  dramatic  talent. 

"  Dear  father,"  said  the  Major,  "  I  believe  I  have  not  yet 
acquainted  you  with  my  darling  wish." 

"  I  do  not  remember  your  having  done  so." 

"  My  request  is,  that  when  we  leave,  Bertha  and  the  chil- 
dren should  remain  with  you  until  the  end  of  the  campaign, 
which  from  present  indications  will  not  extend  to  your  neigh- 
borhood. 

"They  are  now,  at  last,  constructing  a  telegraph  line 
through  your  valley — it  has  been  deemed  a  military  neces- 
sity, and  that  will  enable  us  to  hear  from  each  other  with 
dispatch." 

"  And  will  you  accept  an  unbidden  guest  ?  "  interposed 
Annette.  "  I  know  that  you  will  say  '  yes,'  and  I  promise 
you  that  I  will  be  quite  good  and  docile." 

I  extended  my  hand  to  her,  while  she  continued  : 

"  You  know  that  it  has  for  a  long  while  been  my  wish  to 
be  permitted  to  spend  some  time  with  your  wife.  Iphigenia 
in  the  forest,  in  the  German  pine  forest !  Oh,  how  charming 
it  was  of  your  father-in-law  to  name  his  daughter  so  !  Are 
pretty  names  only  intended  for  books?  Of  course,  Gre- 
cian Iphigenia  should  not  knit  stockings.  Did  not  your 
father-in-law  begin  to  translate  Goethe's  'Iphigenia'  into 
Greek,  but  fail  to  complete  it  ?  Is  not  Iphigenia  too  long  a 
name  for  daily  use  ?  How  do  you  address  your  wife?" 


WALDFRIED. 


117 


"  By  her  middle  name,  Gustava." 

"  Ah,  how  lovely  !  *  Madame  Gustava.'  And  the  forest 
child  ?  I  presume  she  is  still  with  you  ?  And  now  I  shall 
at  last  become  acquainted  with  your  noble  and  faithful  ser- 
vant, Rothfuss,  who  said  that  '  one  who  is  drenched  to  the 
skin  need  not  dread  the  rain.' " 

As  far  as  our  all-engrossing  anxiety  would  permit  it,  An- 
nette's volubility  and  liveliness  contributed  greatly  to  our 
relief. 

We  had  just  left  the  table  when  Rolunt,  the  Major's  most 
intimate  friend,  entered.  He  had  at  one  time  been  an  offi- 
cer in  the  service  of  the  Duke  of  Augustenberg,  and  had 
thence  returned  to  his  home,  where  he  was  now  professor 
at  the  military  school. 

Now  political  conversation  could  not  be  restrained,  al- 
though the  Major  refrained  from  taking  part  in  it. 

Rolunt  was  furious  that,  no  matter  how  the  war  might  end, 
Germany  would  be  obliged  to  give  an  idemnity,  in  the  shape 
of  Nice,  to  France. 

We  had  the  galling  consciousness  that  one  nation  pre- 
sumed to  decide  the  affairs  of  another,  with  as  much  freedom 
as  it  would  regulate  the  taxes  or  the  actions  of  its  own  citi- 
zens. 

We  remained  together  until  it  was  quite  late,  and  when 
we  separated,  it  was  with  crushed  hearts. 

The  Major  insisted  on  my  staying  at  his  house  ;  the  war,  he 
said,  had  done  away  with  all  minor  considerations. 

On  the  following  day  there  was  another  session  of  the 
Parliament.  The  government  demanded  an  extraordinary 
credit,  which  was  accorded,  although  it  was  hoped  that  we 
might  escape  being  drawn  into  war ;  for  both  the  govern- 
ment and  the  legislature  fondly  expected  that  our  troubles 
might  be  arranged  by  diplomacy. 


H8  WALDFRIED. 

Who,  after  all,  was  the  enemy  that  we  were  fighting 
against  ? 

I  went  to  the  barracks.  I  was  refused  admission.  Fortu- 
nately, I  saw  the  ensign  approaching,  and,  under  his  pro- 
tection, I  was  allowed  to  enter.  Ernst,  who  had  already 
donned  the  uniform,  was  lying  on  a  bench.  He  seemed 
surprised  to  see  me. 

"  Pray  do  not  say  a  word  until  we  get  outside." 

He  received  permission  to  go  out  for  half  an  hour,  and  soon 
stood  before  me  in  his  smart  attire.  There  was  something 
graceful  and  yet  determined  in  his  bearing. 

When  we  gained  the  street,  he  asked  me  whether  there 
was  any  chance  of  his  discharge. 

I  was  in  a  sad  dilemma.  I  had  taken  no  steps,  because 
it  was  only  too  evident  that  my  efforts  would  have  been  of 
no  avail. 

It  was  this  that  made  me  hesitate  in  answering  him,  and 
Ernst  exclaimed,  "All  right.  I  know  all  about  it." 

My  very  heart  bled,  pierced  as  it  was  by  the  same  sword 
that  rent  my  Fatherland  in  twain. 

I  endeavored  to  persuade  my  son  that  there  are  times 
when  our  own  wills  and  thoughts  are  of  no  avail  against  the 
great  current  of  Fate. 

"Thanks,  father,  thanks,"  answered  Ernst,  in  a  strangely 
significant  tone. 

I  could  only  add,  "  I  feel  assured  that  you  will  do  your 
duty.  Do  not  forget  that  you  have  parents  and  a  bride." 

He  seemed  to  pay  but  little  attention  to  my  words. 

He  took  off  his  helmet,  and  said,  "This  presses  me  so: 
I  am  unused  to  it.  It  seems  to  crush  my  brain." 

He  looked  very  handsome,  but  very  sad.  We  were 
standing  before  the  office  of  the  State  Gazette,  when  sud- 
denly the  street  seemed  filled  with  groups  of  excited  people, 


WALDFRTbd. 


IIQ 


listening  to  a  man  who  had  climbed  to  the  top  of  a  wagon 
and  was  reading  off  a  dispatch  just  received  from  Berlin,  to 
the  effect  that  there  had  been  an  attempt  to  shoot  Bismarck, 
but  that  the  ball  had  missed  aim. 

"  Curse  him  ! "  cried  Ernst ;  "  I  would  not  have  missed 
aim." 

I  reproved  him  with  great  severity,  but  he  insisted  that 
one  had  a  right  to  commit  murder.  I  replied  that  no  one 
would  ever  have  that  right,  and  that  this  deed  had  been  as 
culpable  as  the  assassination  of  Abraham  Lincoln ;  for  if 
any  one  man  has  the  right  to  be  both  the  judge  and  the 
executioner  of  his  enemies,  you  will  have  to  accord  the  priv- 
ilege to  the  democrat  as  well  as  to  the  aristocrat. 

44  Let  us  cease  this  quarrelling,"  he  answered  ;  "  I  have  no 
desire  to  dispute  with  you.  I  am  firm  in  my  belief  that  one 
is  justified  in  doing  wrong  for  the  sake  of  bringing  about  a 
good  result.  But,  I  beg  of  you,  father,  let  us  now  and  for- 
ever cease  this  quarrelling." 

His  face  showed  his  conflicting  emotions,  and  he  kissed 
my  hand  when  I  gently  stroked  his  face. 

The  crowd  had  dispersed  in  the  meanwhile,  and  we  pro- 
ceeded on  our  way. 

Ernst  suddenly  stopped  and  said  to  me :  "  Farewell, 
father.  Give  my  love  to  mother  and  Martella." 

He  held  on  to  my  hand  quite  firmly  for  a  moment  or  two 
longer,  and  then  said,  "  I  must  go  to  the  barracks." 

His  eyes  plainly  told  me  that  he  would  like  to  say  more 
that  he  could  not  express  ;  but  he  merely  nodded,  and  then 
turning  on  his  heel,  departed. 

"  Write  to  us  often  !  "  I  called  out  to  him.  He  did  not 
look  back. 

I  followed  after  him  for  a  while,  keeping  near  enough  to 
hear  his  firm  step  and  the  rattling  of  his  spurs.  I  fondly 


I20  WALDFRIED. 

hoped  that  he  would  yet  return  to  me,  and  tell  me  of  the 
thoughts  that  oppressed  his  heart. 

I  met  many  acquaintances  on  the  way,  who  saluted  me 
and  extended  their  hands.  They  wanted  me  to  stop  and 
talk  with  them,  but  I  merely  nodded  and  passed  on. 

In  my  eager  haste  I  ran  against  many  people,  for  I  did 
not  want  to  lose  sight  of  my  son.  There  he  goes  !  Now 
he  stands  still — now  he  turns.  Surely —  At  that  moment  a 
company  of  soldiers  marched  down  the  street  to  the  sound 
of  lively  music  ;  we  were  now  separated.  I  could  not  see 
my  son  again.  I  returned  to  Bertha  and  the  Major,  and 
the  latter  promised  me  to  keep  a  watchful  eye  on  Ernst,  and 
to  send  us  frequent  tidings  in  regard  to  him,  in  case  he 
should  neglect  to  write. 

I  rode  to  the  depot.  I  was  fearfully  tired,  and  felt  as  if  I 
could  not  walk  another  step. 

As  the  trains  were  quite  irregular,  I  was  obliged  to  wait 
there  for  a  long  while. 

I  felt — no,  I  cannot — I  dare  not — revive  the  painful 
emotions  that  rent  my  bosom.  Of  what  avail  would  it  be  ? 
My  son  was  going  forth  to  war,  and  I  had  brought  him  here, 
myself. 

"  Brother  fighting  against  brother."  I  fancied  that  I  had 
been  talking  to  myself  and  had  tittered  these  words ;  but  I 
found  that  they  were  frequently  repeated  by  the  excited 
groups  that  were  scattered  about  the  depot.  All  about  me 
there  was  ceaseless  turmoil.  People  were  rushing  to  and 
fro,  yelling,  shouting,  cursing,  and  laughing.  I  sat  there 
absorbed  in  thought,  not  caring  to  see  or  hear  anything 
more  of  the  world,  when  a  familiar  voice  said  to  me,  "  How 
charming,  father,  that  I  should  meet  you  here  !  " 

My  son  Richard  stood  before  me  ;  he  had  finished  his 
lectures  and  was  about  to  return  home. 


WALDFRIED.  I2i 

Accompanied  by  him,  I  started  for  home. 

Richard  informed  me  of  the  political  divisions  among  the 
professors,  and  thus  afforded  me  a  glimpse  of  a  sphere  of  life 
entirely  different  from  my  own.  Even  the  immovable  altars 
of  science  were  now  trembling,  and  personal  feeling  had 
become  so  violent  that  the  friends  of  Prussia,  of  whom 
Richard  was  one,  could  not  appear  in  public  without  being 
subjected  to  insults.  On  our  way  home,  we  stopped  for 
dinner  at  the  garrison  town,  where  we  heard  the  most  con- 
temptuous allusions  to  the  "  Prussian  braggarts,"  as  they  were 
termed. 

It  was  said  that  they  had  no  officers  who  had  ever  smelt 
powder.  That  what  had  been  done  in  Schleswig-Holstein 
had  been  achieved  by  the  Austrians;  and  that  if  they  ever 
dared  go  so  far  as  to  fight,  they  would  be  sent  home  in  dis- 
grace. 

I  do  not  know  whether  they  really  believed  what  they 
said,  or  whether  they  were  simply  trying  to  keep  up  their 
courage.  But,  on  every  hand,  one  could  hear  them  say, 
"  They  will  not  let  matters  proceed  so  far ;  they  are  loud 
talkers  and  nothing  else." 

I  was  quite  beside  myself;  but  Richard  begged  me  to  re- 
main silent.  He  thought  it  was  well  that  matters  had  come 
to  this  pass. 

Whoever  had  brought  on  this  war  had  assumed  a  great, 
but  perhaps  unavoidable,  responsibility.  It  was  the  sad 
fiat  of  fate,  and  none  could  foretell  where  the  sacrifice  and 
suffering  would  end.  History  would  march  on  in  its  ap- 
pointed path,  even  though  sin  and  suffering  be  its  stepping- 
stones. 

And  then  he  pointed  to  our  surroundings,  and  added, 
"  Such  fellows  as  these  will  never  be  converted  by  speeches  ; 
nothing  but  a  thorough  beating  will  teach  them  reason." 


122  WALDFRIED. 

I  have  found  that  sober  history  tells  us  very  little  of  all 
those  things.  She  brings  the  harvest  under  shelter  and 
enters  the  result ;  but  who  stops  to  ask  how  the  weather 
may  have  changed  while  the  grain  was  ripening  ? 

But  to  us  who  live  in  the  present,  such  things  are 
not  trifles ;  and  I  cannot  help  maintaining  that  the  war  of 
1866  was  forced  on  the  people  against  their  will,  as  far  as  I 
can  judge,  and  I  have  spoken  to  many  on  the  subject.  The 
Prussians  did  not  desire  war ;  the  conservatives  did  cer- 
tainly not  wish  for  it,  for  Austria  was,  spite  of  all,  the  bul- 
wark of  their  principles.  The  liberals  did  not  want  it;  nor 
did  the  soldiers  go  forth  with  cheerful  hearts.  But  necessity 
had  become  incarnate  in  the  brain  of  a  single  statesman  : 
separation  from  Austria  was  the  end  to  be  gained,  and 
though  it  went  hard,  that  result  must  be  achieved. 

But  the  operation  was  a  difficult  and  a  painful  one. 


CHAPTER  XXII. 

EFORE  the  train  left  the  station,  the  newsboys  were 
running  about  offering  copies  of  extra  issues  of.  the 
journals,  with  news  that  the  Diet  had  raised  the  German 
colors  :  black,  red,  gold. 

And  thus  the  Diet  dared  to  unfurl  the  flag  which  we  had 
always  regarded  with  devotion, — for  the  sake  of  which  we 
had  been  persecuted,  imprisoned,  or  exiled.  It  seemed  as 
if  the  holiest  of  holies  had  been  denied  and  dishonored. 

"  It  is  the  death-bed  repentance  of  a  sinner  who  has  not 
enough  time  left  to  do  good  in,"  said  Richard,  who  divined 
the  thoughts  that  were  passing  through  my  mind. 

A  large  company  of  soldiers  was  on  the  train,  and  went 
as  far  as  the  next  garrison  town. 

But  how  could  they  have  found  it  in  their  hearts  to  sing  ? 

Haymaking  had  begun,  the  cars  were  filled  with  the  fra- 
grant odor  of  the  newly  mown  grass.  The  laborers  in  the 
fields  would  look  up  from  their  work,  and  raise  their  scythes 
on  high  when  they  saw  us  pass. 

And  now,  when  it  seemed  as  if  my  Fatherland  was  to  be 
laid  waste  and  destroyed,  I  became  more  than  ever  sensible 
of  my  great  affection  for  it. 

These  woods,  these  fields  and  villages,  were  all  to  be 
laid  waste,  and  shrieks  of  woe  would  resound  from  the 
flames.  I  felt  it  as  keenly,  as  if  beholding  a  beloved  rela- 
tive in  the  grasp  of  death. 

The  train  was  just  moving  away  from  the  station  when  I 
heard  a  soldier  call  out  to  me,  "  Grandfather !  " 


124 


WALDFRIED. 


I  recognized  him :  it  was  my  grandson  Martin,  the  son  of 
my  daughter  Johanna.  He  nodded  to  me,  and  when  I 
turned  to  look  at  him,  I  saw  the  lieutenant  collaring  and 
buffeting  him  for  speaking  without  orders  while  in  the  ranks. 

We  had  proceeded  but  a  short  distance  when  I  observed 
that  Funk  was  on  the  train.  He  kept  at  a  distance  from  us. 
He  had  bought  a  large  bundle  of  extra  newspapers,  which  he 
distributed  to  the  people  at  the  different  stations. 

When  we  reached  our  circuit  town  we  repaired  to  the 
Wild  Man  Tavern,  where,  while  waiting  for  a  conveyance,  we 
seated  ourselves  under  the  newly  planted  lindens.  While 
sitting  there,  engrossed  by  thoughts  of  the  country's  troubles, 
I  learned  of  another  trouble  nearer  home. 

I  am  old  enough  to  know  something  of  human  wicked- 
ness, but  I  admit  that  I  am,  even  to  this  day,  frequently  sur- 
prised by  the  shape  that  human  meanness  will  sometimes 
take. 

At  a  side  table  was  seated  Funk's  special  satellite — the 
baker  Lerz,  of  Hollerberg.  He  was  accompanied  by  his 
wife,  and  both  looked  about  them  with  an  air  of  serene  con- 
tentment. The  baker  was  a  sensual,  self-complacent  man, 
who  had  a  habit  of  smiling  and  moving  his  lips,  as  if  he  were 
smacking  them  at  the  thoughts  of  a  feast  he  had  just  been 
enjoying.  He  had  just  been  involved  in  an  unclean  piece 
of  business,  in  which  he  had  sworn  that  he  was  innocent, 
although,  according  to  my  conviction  and  the  general  belief, 
he  had  perjured  himself  in  so  doing.  But  what  does  such 
an  unconscionable  voluptuary  care  for  that?  When  the 
peril  was  gassed,  all  care  was  at  an  end. 

The  baker  approached  me  and  inquired  if  I  would  like  to 
ride  home  with  him  ;  for  the  government  levies  had  rendered 
it  difficult  to  obtain  a  conveyance.  I  declined;  Fortu- 
nately, my  neighbor,  the  young  meadow  farmer,  who  had 


WALDFRIED. 


125 


been  taking  hay  over  to  the  railway  station,  was  passing  by 
at  the  time,  and  so  I  rode  home  with  him. 

A  little  way  out  of  the  town,  we  came  up  with  a  young 
woman  who  was  walking  along  the  road.  She  had  covered 
her  head  with  a  large  white  kerchief,  and  was  carrying  an 
infant  in  her  arms. 

Her.  head  was  bent  forward ;  and  it  is  generally  a  sign  of 
deep  thought  if  one  who  is  walking  along  a  road  does  not 
look  around  at  the  rapid  approach  of  a  vehicle.  And  this 
woman  was  Lerz's  victim. 

The  meadow  farmer,  who  was,  usually,  a  man  of  few 
words,  leaned  back  from  his  seat  on  the  front  bench,  and 
whispered  to  me,  "Such  a  fellow  as  Lerz  ought  not  to  be 
permitted  to  take  an  oath." 

The  meadow  farmer  had  for  a  long  while  been  my  worst 
enemy,  simply  because  I  had  deprived  him  of  his  greatest 
enjoyment — venting  his  spite  on  others. 

Although  it  may,  in  these  pages,  seem  as  if  I  had  cher- 
ished too  high  an  ideal  of  the  people,  I  desire  right  here  to 
say  that  I  have  found  among  the  lower  classes  that  which  is 
noblest  and  highest  in  man.  But  I  have  also  found  much 
that  is  mean  and  revolting.  Envy  and  malice  are  charac- 
teristics almost  peculiar  to  the  farmer,  and  are  especially 
shown  about  the  time  of  irrigating  the  meadows.  It  affords 
him  peculiar  pleasure  to  wait  until  a  neighbor  has  set  his 
water-traps,  and  to  sneak  out  and  reverse  them  so  as  to 
make  the  water  flow  on  to  his  own  meadows. 

The  authorities  had  forbidden  the  watering  of  meadows 
after  two  o'clock  on  Sunday  morning,  but  it  availed  nothing. 
I  appointed  a  servant  who  was  to  have  the  sole  right  of 
setting  the  water-gates  and  opening  them  again ;  and  the 
meadow  farmer  could  not  forgive  me  for  this.  I  had 
robbed  him  of  the  pleasure  of  wreaking  his  spite  on. others. 


I26  WALDFRIED. 

It  was  not  so  much  on  account  of  the  advantage  he  had 
gained  thereby ;  but,  like  the  rest  of  them,  he  had  found  it 
great  sport  to  outwit  the  "gentleman  farmer,"  as  they  called 
me. 

The  meadow  farmer  really  hated  me  and  Joseph  ;  for  if  it 
had  not  been  for  us  he  would  have  been  the  first  man  in  the 
village.  Wherever  he  went,  they  inquired,  "  How  goes  it 
with  Waldfried  ?  "  or  "  How  is  Joseph  Linker  ?  "  It  annoyed 
him  that  they  did  not  ask  after  him  first  of  all. 

He  would  have  been  glad  to  take  a  share  in  politics,  but 
was  too  mean  to  bestow  the  requisite  amount  of  time  upon 
such  matters ;  and  then  he  would  say,  "  Such  folks  as  Funk 
should  not  be  permitted  to  put  in  their  say ;  there  is  noth- 
ing behind  him." 

We  had  just  reached  the  saw-mill,  down  in  the  valley, 
when  we  saw  a  large  hay-wagon  coming  along  the  road  in 
the  direction  of  the  meadow.  Martella  sat  on  top  :  Rothfuss 
was  walking  beside  the  horses. 

Martella  alighted.  She  looked  quite  troubled.  She  wel- 
comed Richard,  and  asked  me,  "  Where  have  you  left  Ernst  ?  " 

"  He  is  not  with  us." 

"Where  then?" 

We  had  no  time  to  reply  before  Martella  called  out,  "  So 
he  must  go  to  war  after  all!  " 

"  Of  course." 

"  Of  course  ?  Of  course  ?  "  Martella  asked  repeatedly. 
She  stopped  for  a  moment,  and  removing  the  rake  from  her 
shoulder  rested  herself  upon  it. 

I  told  her  that  in  all  likelihood  there  would  be  no  war, 
and  that  all  the  clamor  was  nothing  more  than  angry  threat- 
ening on  both  sides. 

"That  is  not  true!"  cried  Martella;  "you  should  not 
tell  me  an  untruth  !  " 


WALDFRIED. 


127 


"  Martella,  this  is  my  father  !  "  cried  Richard. 

"And  mine  too,"  she  interrupted;  " forgive  me!  Be- 
cause you  are  my  father  you  should  forgive  me ;  if  you  did 
not  you  would  not  and  could  not  be  my  father.  Forgive 
me  !  Oh  !  they  will  shoot  my  good,  kind  Ernst ! " 

She  sat  down  by  the  roadside  and  covered  her  face  with 
both  her  hands.  In  a  little  while,  however,  she  yielded  to 
our  entreaties,  and  accompanied  us  to  the  house,  but  with- 
out speaking  a  word  on  the  way.  As  soon  as  we  arrived 
there,  she  hurriedly  left  us  and  hastened  to  the  barn.  In  a 
few  moments  she  returned  and  cried  out  with  a  loud  voice, 
"  Mother,  Richard  is  here  !  " 

The  child's  temperament  was  strangely  variable. 

My  wife  was  especially  delighted  at  Richard's  return. 
lt  With  one  exception,"  she  said,  smiling  (for  she  could  not 
reconcile  herself  to  Richard's  remaining  unmarried),  "  you 
always  did  the  right  thing  at  the  right  time.  We  need  both 
a  son  and  a  Professor.  Perhaps  you  will  be  able  to  make 
Martella  understand  what  is  meant  by  the  words  State  and 
Fatherland." 

She  told  us  that  Martella,  who  was  generally  so  quick  of 
apprehension,  found  it  impossible  to  form  any  conception  of 
those  ideas,  and  that,  naturally  enough,  in  her  present 
troubles,  this  was  doubly  difficult.  For,  even  in  our  eyes, 
the  events  as  well  as  the  duties  of  that  sad  period  seemed 
like  a  horrible  enigma. 

It  seemed  as  if  thinking  of  Martella  had  relieved  my  wife 
from  the  weight  of  her  own  trouble.  When  I  informed  her 
of  the  expected  arrival  of  Bertha  and  the  children,  her  face 
beamed  with  joy.  She  at  once  repaired  to  the  rooms  that 
they  were  to  occupy,  and  seemed,  in  anticipation,  to  enjoy  the 
thought  of  entertaining  those  who  were  dearest  to  her. 

I  had  told  my  wife  nothing  of  Annette's  coming.     She 


I28  WALDFRIED. 

was,  however,  gifted  with  a  prophetic  insight  that  bordered 
on  the  marvellous.  Results  which  to  others  were  yet  in- 
visible were,  by  her,  discerned  with  unerring  foresight.  She 
at  once  devoted  two  large  rooms  opening  on  the  garden  to 
Annette. 

Martella  hurried  about,  helping  to  get  the  house  in  order, 
and  seemed  as  if  there  was  nothing  to  depress  her  spirits. 

Rothftiss  complained  to  me  that  the  "  forest  imp,"  as  he 
at  times  called  Martella,  left  him  no  peace,  day  or  night. 
She  wanted  him  to  tell  her  why  people  had  to  be  soldiers, 
and  why  there  was  such  a  thing  as  war ;  and  she  had  abused 
the  Prince  in  terms  that  would  secure  her  seven  years  in  the 
fortress  of  Illenberg,  if  her  remarks  were  reported  to  the 
authorities. 

She  had  once  even  wanted  to  run  off  to  the  Prince  and  tell 
him  how  wicked  it  was  to  command  human  beings  to  shoot 
one  another,  and  that  he  should,  at  all  events,  give  her  lover 
back  again,  for  the  war  was  nothing  to  Ernst  or  to  her. 

Rothfuss  called  the  professor  to  his  assistance. 

Richard  declined  the  commission,  remarking  that  it  was 
not  necessary  for  every  maiden  to  know  why  her  lover  was 
forced  to  go  to  the  wars,  and  that,  in  the  present  instance, 
he  hardly  knew  the  reason  himself. 

Notwithstanding  this  remark,  he  essayed  to  speak  with 
Martella  on  the  subject,  and  I  have  never  seen  him  so  ner- 
vous and  confused  as  on  that  occasion ;  for  Martella  called 
out  to  him,  "  Do  not  say  a  word  :  it  is  all  of  no  use."  Then 
she  embraced  him,  and  kissed  him,  and  pressed  him  to  her 
heart. 

Martella's  ardent  kisses  had  so  surprised  and  confused 
him  that  it  was  some  time  before  he  could  collect  himself. 
I  had  never  seen  him  so  unnerved  before.  I  believed  that 
I  understood  the  cause  of  his  emotion. 


WALDFRIED. 


129 


Martella  was  a  riddle  which  to  Richard  ssemed  more 
difficult  of  solution  than  to  any  of  us. 

What  we  had  all  failed  to  accomplish  was  brought  about 
by  the  simple-minded  Spinner. 

Had  she  been  told  that  she  could  be  of  use,  or  had  she 
divined  it  ?  She  came  up  to  Martella  and  said,  "  Child, 
your  lot  is  a  hard  one  ;  but  look  at  me  :  mine  is  still  harder. 
My  best  child,  indeed  my  only  one, — for  the  others  had  left 
me  to  starve, — has  also  gone  to  the  war ;  and  though  a  lover 
be  ever  so  dear,  he  is  not  a  son,  as  you  will  sometime  know 
when  you  have  a  son  of  your  own." 

After  that,  Martella  was  quite  resigned.  She  had,  of 
course,  not  acquired  any  idea  of  the  significance  of  the  word 
"  State  ; "  but  she  now  felt  that  the  fate  of  all  beings  was 
ordained  by  a  great  overruling  power. 

Joseph  kept  us  constantly  informed  of  the  excitement  that 
reigned  through  the  neighborhood.  Funk  was  the  chief 
spokesman.  He  announced  that  the  time  was  about  to  ar- 
rive when  Germany  would  become  a  free  confederation  like 
our  neighbor  Switzerland. 

I  do  not  think  that  one  of  those  loud  talkers  believed  in 
the  fulfilment  of  such  hopes  ;  but,  for  the  time  being,  it  af- 
forded them  an  opportunity  of  indulging  in  high-sounding 
phrases.  On  the  other  hand,  we  knew  that  to  "  abolish 
Prussia,"  as  their  phrase  ran,  would  simply  be  the  first  step 
towards  preparing  for  Germany  the  fate  of  Poland.  And 
yet  my  own  kindred — my  son,  my  son-in-law,  and  Martin, 
my  grandson — were  fighting  to  accomplish  that  very  object. 
9 


BOOK    SECOND, 


CHAPTER  I. 

WE  were  seated  on  the  balcony  when  we  saw  Bertha 
and  her  children  coming  up  the  hill  towards  the 
house.  My  wife  at  once  arose,  and  opened  the  two  folding- 
doors,  as  if  with  that  action  she  were  opening  wide  our 
hearts  to  receive  them. 

Realizing  the  fact  that  there  was  no  escaping  from  our 
troubles,  Bertha  had  conquered  her  sorrow,  and  now  ap- 
peared as  fresh  and  cheerful  as  if  she  had  just  been  drinking 
at  the  fountain  of  youth. 

As  soon  as  trie  first  greetings  were  over,  my  wife  inquired 
about  Ernst. 

Bertha  had  seen  him  but  once,  as  his  captain  had  sent  him 
up  the  country  to  get  transportation  for  horses. 

"That  is  bad;  they  should  not  have  sent  him  there.  O 
Ernst,  poor,  dear  Ernst !  "  suddenly  shrieked  my  wife. 

She  grew  pale  and  fell  back  on  a  chair.  We  feared  that 
she  would  faint.  Bertha  rushed  to  her  aid,  but  she  speedily 
recovered  herself,  and  her  trembling  lips  were  the  only  sign, 
of  the  emotion  she  had  passed  through.  She  did  not  tell  us 
why  she  had  found  it  so  wrong  of  them  to  send  Ernst  on 
that  errand.  She  accompanied  Bertha  to  her  room,  and 


WALDFRIED.  I3I 

stroking  the  light  locks  of  little  Victor,  whom  she  had  taken 
on  her  lap,  said,  "He  looked  just  as  you  do  when  he  was 
a  little  boy,  except  that  he  had  blue  eyes." 

"  Yes,"  said  Bertha,  "  my  husband  has  often  noticed  that 
Victor  bears  great  resemblance  to  Ernst." 

"  And  Uncle  Ernst  promised  me  a  horse,"  said  Victor. 

"  Did  he  ?  "  said  my  wife,  with  pleased  looks  :  "  If  he  did 
that, it  is  all  right,  but  sad  enough  for  all.  Still,  others  have 
their  burdens  to  bear  as  well  as  we." 

Martella's  first  meeting  with  Bertha  as  well  as  with  An- 
nette, resulted  in  mutual  attraction. 

Bertha  was  obliged  to  tell  Martella  all  that  she  knew 
about  Ernst,  and  while  she  was  holding  the  hand  of  the 
strange  child,  the  latter  must  have  felt  a  consciousness  of 
the  candor  and  straightforwardness  of  Bertha's  character,  for 
she  looked  into  her  face  with  sparkling  eyes. 

Martella  asked  Bertha  whether  Ernst  had  sent  the  broken 
ring  by  her. 

Bertha  said  he  had  not. 

She  removed  a  ring  from  her  finger  and  offered  it  to  Mar- 
tella, who  declined  it. 

When  Annette  offered  both  her  hands  to  Martella,  and 
said  that  she  had  for  a  long  while  been  anxious  to  make  her 
acquaintance,  Martella  was  quite  confused,  and  looked 
down  towards  the  ground.  When  she  raised  her  head,  her 
eyes  fell  on  a  light  green  necktie  which  Annette  wore. 

"  How  pretty  it  is  !  "  were  her  first  words. 

Annette  immediately  removed  the  tie,  and  fastened  it 
about  Martella's  neck. 

"  It  is  quite  warm,  yet,"  said  Martella ;  and  Annette 
replied,  "  How  lovely !  Let  us  regard  that  as  a  good 
omen." 

When  Bertha,  who  rarely  gave  way  to  sentiment,  returned 


T32 


WALDFRIED. 


and  joined  us  again,  she  said,  "  Let  us  now  be  thrice  as  kind 
and  loving  to  one  another  as  we  have  been,  and  be  indul- 
gent with  each  other's  moods.  It  is  only  by  such  means 
that  we  can  manage  to  live  through  these  terrible  times." 

Bertha  and  her  daughter  Clotilde,  a  charming,  graceful 
child  about  nine  years  of  age,  were  so  clever  in  anticipating 
every  wish  of  my  wife's,  that,  although  it  had  always  been 
her  wont  to  be  serving  others  and  providing  for  their  com 
fort,  she  was  now  obliged  to  let  them  have  their  own  way. 

Martella  seemed  almost  inseparable  from  Rothfuss,  and 
Victor  was  always  with  the  two.  He  accompanied  them 
out  to  the  fields  and  into  the  woods;  and  it  was  difficult  to 
say  which  of  the  two  was  the  happier,  Rothfuss  the  old,  or 
Victor  the  young,  child. 

It  would  have  been  difficult  also  to  say  which  of  the  two, 
Victor  or  Martella,  cut  wilder  capers,  for  the  young  play- 
fellow with  the  soldier  cap  seemed  to  make  her  forget  all 
her  trouble.  She  was  quite  proud  of  her  skill  in  leaping,  and 
loved  to  display  it. 

Bertha  maintained  that,  in  spite  of  rough  manners,  many 
of  Martella's  movements  were  full  of  wondrous  grace  ;  and 
when  she  would  turn  around  five  or  six  times  on  one  foot, 
Victor  could  never  imitate  her. 

On  the  very  day  of  her  arrival,  Annette  awakened  great 
interest  in  the  village. 

She  ascended  to  the  top  of  the  church  steeple,  where  none 
of  us  had  ever  been.  She  waved  her  handkerchief  from  the 
little  window  in  the  belfry,  until  we  took  notice  of  her  and 
returned  her  salute.  All  of  the  villagers  who  were  not  en- 
gaged in  the  fields  had  gathered  in  groups,  and  were  look- 
ing up  at  the  church  steeple. 

When  she  joined  us  at  dinner,  she  told  us  that  she 
had  already  found  out  everything.  The  school-master 


WALDF1UED.  j^ 

had  told  her  of  the  woods  that  had  been  pl.mted  by  my  wife, 
that  she  had  already  been  at  the  Gustava  Spring,  and  that 
the  water  had  tasted  as  if  it  were  pure  dew. 

"  Ah,  how  fortunate  you  are  to  own  all  this  I  The  very 
air  you  breathe  is  your  own." 

She  talked  incessantly,  and  many  of  her  remarks  were 
quite  entertaining.  She  plied  Richard  with  so  many  questions 
that  hje  looked  quite  displeased,  and  soon  left  the  table. 

"  I  can  tell  by  the  professor's  looks  that  he  is  musical ;  is 
he  not  ? " 

"Indeed  he  is;  he  is  esteemed  an  excellent  violincello 
player." 

"I  can  assure  you  that  I  asked  no  one,  and  I  am  so  glad 
that  my  intuitions  did  not  deceive  me." 

While  Annette  was  paying  a  visit  to  the  school-mistress, 
Richard  gave  vent  to  his  anger  at  her  ;  but  my  wife  pacified 
him.  Annette  could  not  enjoy  the  quiet  possession  of  any- 
thing, and  was  always  anxious  to  impart  what  she  knew  and 
felt  to  others.  She  was  evidently  of  a  very  hospitable 
natare,  and  would,  in  good -time,  acquire  repose  of  manner. 
During  the  first  few  days,  while  we  were  yet  without  news 
of  any  kind,  and  before  the  journals  had  given  us  any  infor- 
mation as  to  the  movements  of  the  troops,  Annette  did  not 
allow  us  to  get  a  moment's  rest. 

The  way  she  worried  us  all,  and  Richard  in  particular, 
was  quite  provoking ;  and  yet  this  lesser  trouble  made  us 
forget  the  greater  one. 

My  father-in-law  had  converted  the  large  .corner  room  on 
the  ground  floor  of  our  house  into  a  veritable  temple  of 
beauty.  He  had,  from  time  to  time,  purchased  casts  of  the 
best  antique  startues,  and  had  carefully  arranged  them  along 
the  walls  and  on  pedestals,  placing  beautiful  engravings  be- 
tween them. 


WALDFRIED. 

He  had  thus  brought  the  immortal  types  of  beauty  into 
the  depths  of  the  forest.  The  room  in  which  he  had  placed 
the  statues,  and  which  Richard  jokingly  entitled  "Athens,' 
was  a  favorite  haunt  of  ours. 

Annette  was  greatly  surprised  to  find  such  treasures  with 
us,  and  said  to  Richard,  "  These  undying  types  of  a  past 
great  civilization  are  at  home  everywhere.  It  is  because 
they  no  longer  have,  and  indeed  never  did  have,  anything 
in  common  with  the  life  of  fashion,  that  they  are  thus  im- 
mortal. Do  you  not  agree  with  me  ?  " 

She  always  insisted  on  having  an  answer  to  her  ques- 
tions. Then  she  would  briskly  add  :  "  Now  I  understand 
the  meaning  of  the  Niobe ;  she  is  the  old  spinner  who 
lives  out  on  the  rock."  When  we  laughed  at  this  con- 
ceit of  hers,  she  told  us,  "  Oh !  I  beg  your  pardon,  I  mean 
that  she  is  the  embodiment  of  a  mother's  grief  in  time  of 
war." 

Pointing  to  a  statue  of  Iphigenia,  she  inquired,  "  Herr 
Professor,  can  you  tell  me  how  the  Grecian  priestesses  spent 
their  time  ?  Do  you  think  it  possible  to  be  constantly  offer- 
ing sacrifices  and  uttering  lofty  thoughts  ?  " 

Richard  admitted  that  he  could  not  give  her  the  desired 
information ;  and  Annette  was  quite  delighted  that  she  had 
posed  the  professor.  She  did  not  give  up  troubling  him, 
however. 

All  her  notions  of  life  in  the  country  had  been  derived 
from  books,  and  she  was  quite  shocked  to  find  that  the  mere 
money  value  or  utility  of  trees  was  the  only  point  of  view 
in  which  they  were  regarded. 

Notwithstanding  her  overflowing,  emotional  temperament, 
she  had  quite  a  taste  for  details,  and  even  .for  figures.  At 
the  first  sight  of  a  prettily  situated  village,  she  would  always 
make  inquiries  in  regard  to  the  number  of  its  inhabitants, 


WALDFRIED.  ^c; 

tlieir  means,  and  manner  of  living.  I  was  obliged  to  tell 
her  all  about  my  own  household — how  many  acres  of  timber 
there  were  ready  to  cut,  and  how  much  was  young  timber ; 
the  amount  of  our  annual  production,  how  much  live-stock 
my  meadows  would  support,  how  much  fruit  my  orchards 
gave  me,  and  also  how  the  work  was  divided  amongst  the 
four  men-servants  and  three  maids  that  we  employed. 

She  examined  the  whole  establishment,  from  the  stable  to 
the  loft.  She  seemed  to  take  especial  delight  in  the  happy 
combination  we  had  effected  between  the  fruits  of  culture 
and  the  pursuit  of  husbandry.  There  was  a  certain  air  of 
solid  comfort  and  good  taste  in  our  home.  It  had  de- 
scended from  the  times  of  my  father-in-law,  and  had  been 
kept  up  by  us. 

With  good  judgment,  Annette  thought  that  the  very  best 
site  had  been  selected  for  our  house.  The  hill  Beyond  the 
hollow  at  the  back  of  the  house  protected  us  on  three  sides, 
but  was  not  near  enough  to  deprive  us  of  fresh  air,  or  to  keep 
out  the  gentle  breezes  that  would  come  up  from  the  valley 
after  sunset  and  carry  away  the  miasmatic  vapors,  thus 
affording  us  healthful  and  refreshing  sleep  during  the  night. 
A  barn,  which  the  meadow  farmer  had  so  placed  that  it  de- 
stroyed part  of  the  view  down  the  valley,  was  a  great  eye- 
sore to  Annette. 

She  asked  Richard  why  the  air  with  us  was  so  cool  and 
invigorating,  and  was  very  grateful  when  he  explained  the 
theory  of  the  dew-fall  to  her. 

She  was  full  of  charming  ingenuousness,  for  she  once  said. 
"  I  do  not  doubt  that  you  enjoy  the  singing  of  the  birds,  but 
I  honestly  confess  that  I  do  not.  It  is  pleasant  to  know 
that  the  little  animal  up  in  the  trees  is  so  joyful ;  but,  never- 
theless, there  is  no  beauty  in  tones  without  connection  or 
expression.  I  find  that  there  are  no  more  tones  in  the  scale 


136 


WALDFRIED. 


of  the  finch  than  in  that  of  the  barn-yard  rooster  ;  and  why 
do  we  prefer  the  notes  of  the  finch  ?  " 

Richard  often  felt  annoyed  that  Annette  was  constantly 
keeping  every  one  about  her  on  pins  and  needles,  and  seemed 
to  desire  his  special  approval  of  all  that  she  did.  He  main- 
tained that  she  was  entirely  deficient  in  mental  balance. 

The  temperaments  of  Annette  and  Bertha  were  in  marked 
contrast  to  each  other. 

When  they  were  seated  opposite  each  other  and  engaged 
in  conversation,  Bertha  would  bend  forward,  while  Annette 
would  lean  back  in  her  chair,  as  if  immovable. 

Bertha's  mere  presence  exerted  a  grateful  influence,  while 
Annette  felt  that  she  must  always  be  doing  something,  in 
order  to  inspire  others  with  an  interest  in  her. 

Bertha,  with  all  her  affection  for  Martella,  remained  some- 
what reserved  towards  her,  while  Annette  was  open  and 
confiding,  as  with  a  sister.  She  was  incapable  of  any  other 
relations  than  those  of  perfect  intimacy  or  absolute  indiffer- 
ence. 

Richard  noticed  all  these  peculiarities,  and  when  he  men- 
tioned them  to  me,  I  was  almost  startled  to  find  how  care- 
fully he  had  been  observing  Annette. 

He  was  obliged,  however,  to  agree  with  my  wife  when 
she  said,  "Annette's  habit  of  requiring  her  friends  to  interest 
themselves  in  whatever  engages  her  attention,  is  both  inno- 
cent and  childlike.  A  child  will  always  think  that  its  whip 
or  its  ball  is  of  as  much  importance  to  others  as  to  itself. 
Bear  in  mind,  moreover,  that  Annette  takes  a  lively  interest 
in  all  that  others  do,  and  naturally  enough  supposes  that  they 
resemble  her  in  that  respect." 

Annette  had  gone  from  the  schocl-house  one  day,  to  pay  a 
visit  to  my  nephew  Joseph,  who  was  a  friend  of  her  brother, 
the  lawyer,  who  resided  in  the  capital.  She  found  that  there 


WALD  FRIED. 

were  well-furnished  rooms  in  his  house,  and  a  few  days  later 
removed  there.  She  frankly  admitted  that  she  was  too  noisy 
for  our  home,  and  that  it  were  better  that  she  should  visit  us 
for  a  few  hours  at  a  time,  instead  of  living  with  us. 

She  at  once  set  about  rearranging  the  furniture  and  re- 
moving unnecessary  decorations  in  her  new  quarters  ;  and, 
on  the  next  day,  while  the  carpenters  were  busily  engaged 
in  making  the  changes  she  had  ordered,  she  drove  over  to 
the  city  to  visit  the  family  of  the  kreis-director,  with  whom 
she  had  formerly  been  intimate. 

She  returned  in  the  evening,  bringing  their  eldest  daughter, 
whom  she  intended  to  keep  with  her  as  a  companion.  A 
large  wagon  carrying  sofas,  rocking-chairs,  and  all  sorts  of 
furniture  followed. 

Although  Annette  had  intended  to  lead  a  quiet  and  con- 
templative life,  she  might  have  been  seen  in  the  village  at 
any  hour  of  the  day.  She  speedily  acquainted  herself  with  all 
of  its  features.  She  had,  by  rearranging  the  furniture  in  her 
own  rooms,  made  them  habitable  and  tasteful,  and  she  now 
desired  to  effect  a  corresponding  transformation  in  the 
houses  of  the  wood-cutters  ;  but  the  wives  of  the  well-to-do 
farmers  looked  askance.  Whenever  she  met  one  of  the  vil- 
lagers, she  would  greet  him  or  her  politely,  and  would  ask 
both  old  and  young  what  they  had  had  for  dinner.  She  in- 
sisted that  this  was  the  most  important  of  all  questions. 
The  people,  however,  found  it  great  sport  to  answer  her 
with  lies. 

She  had  speedily  become  attached  to  the  wife  of  the 
school-master,  but  disliked  to  go  to  the  clergyman's  house. 


CHAPTER  II. 

OUR  clergyman  was  the  son  of  poor  parents.  His 
father  had  been  a  beadle.  He  is  without  a  single 
spark  of  genius,  but  is  said  to  have  distinguished  himself  by 
great  application.  He  attends  to  his  duties  methodically, 
but  in  a  cold  and  perfunctory  manner.  During  the  sum- 
mer, he  spends  much  of  his  time  fishing ;  in  the  winter,  he  is 
almost  always  at  home.  He  is  well-skilled  in  that  game  of 
chess  which  requires  but  one  player.  He  lost  his  father 
while  he  was  quite  young,  and  in  order  to  be  able  to  aid  his 
mother  and  his  many  brothers  and  sisters,  he  married  a 
wealthy,  but  half-witted  girl,  whom  he  never  cared  to  take 
into  society.  Politics  had  no  attractions  for  him. 

Formerly,  if  a  beggar  applied  to  him  for  alms  he  would 
have  him  sent  up  into  his  room,  and  would  ask  him,  "  What 
good  will  it  do  if  I  give  you  that  which  will  only  help  you 
for  a  moment  or  so  ?  Come  and  listen  " — and  he  would 
then  read  the  beggar  a  sermon,  or  a  chapter  out  of  the  Bible. 
But,  of  late  years,  the  beggars  had  piously  avoided  his 
house. 

Our  school-master,  on  the  other  hand,  is  a  clever  and 
wide-awake  man.  He,  too,  had  taken  part  in  the  political 
movements  of  1848,  but  when  placed  on  trial  was  acquitted. 
Ever  since  that  time,  he  has  held  aloof  from  political  affairs. 
He  married  a  woman  who  is  exceedingly  clever,  and  who 
brought  him  some  money  besides. 

The  clergyman  has  no  children  :  the  school-master  has 
three — two  sons,  one  of  whom  is  a  merchant  down  by  the 


WALDFRIED. 

fortress ;  the  other  is  a  machinist,  and  resides  in  America. 
He  is  said  to  have  quite  a  large  business.  The  daughter  is 
the  wife  of  the  inspector  of  roads.  The  school-master  is 
quite  proud  that  he  can  say,  "  If  I  were  to  give  up  my  position 
to-morrow,  I  could  afford  to  live  without  work  " — a  state  of 
affairs  to  which  the  skill  and  economy  of  his  wife  has  greatly 
contributed.  The  couple  lead  a  loving  and  tranquil  life. 
They  are  hale  and  hearty,  and,  as  it  often  happens  when  two 
persons  have  lived  together  many  years,  they  have  grown  to 
look  very  much  alike.  Their  garden  was  filled  with 
teeming  flower-beds.  Florists  from  the  neighboring  wa- 
tering-places would  come  daily  to  purchase  flowers,  and 
thus  the  garden  had  become  a  source  of  considerable 
profit. 

But  now  that  the  war  had  emptied  the  watering-places, 
the  flowers  were  left  to  perish  for  want  of  purchasers. 

Annette  instructed  the  school-master's  wife  in  the  art  of 
drying  flowers,  and  making  pretty  bouquets  of  them. 

Carl's  mother,  who  lived  in  a  little  house  out  by  the  rock, 
worked  every  day  in  the  garden  of  the  school-master's  wife. 

Annette  was  attracted  by  the  woman.  She  was  short  and 
thin,  old  and  stooping,  but  had  wonderfully  clear  and  spark- 
ling eyes,  and  Annette  felt  quite  happy  to  think  that  this  old 
woman,  who  was  almost  deaf,  could  by  means  of  her  eyes 
still  have  so  much  enjoyment. 

During  the  summer,  the  spinner,  as  had  been  her  wont 
every  year,  would  scrape  off  the  bark  from  the  branches  of 
the  elderberry  tree,  and  afterward  tie  up  the  branches  in 
bundles.  Annette  did  great  damage  by  explaining  to  her — 
she  had  only  learned  it  herself  the  day  before — that  they 
would  be  used  to  make  gunpowder.  When  the  old  woman 
heard  that,  she  felt  as  if  she  could  not  bear  to  touch  the 
wood ;  but,  as  she  had  undertaken  the  task,  she  was  obliged 


WALDFRIED. 

to  finish  it,  and  so  went  on  with  her  work,  although  it  was 
not  without  murmuring. 

Through  Annette's  insinuating  herself  into  the  intimacy  of 
others,  much  that  happened  in  our  village  acquired  clearer 
colors,  and  greater  importance  in  my  eyes. 

I  told  her  the  history  of  the  spinner.  She  had  had  a  hus- 
band, a  tall,  handsome  man.  He  had  been  employed  as  a 
laborer  on  the  road,  but  had  wasted  all  his  earnings  at  the 
tavern. 

Besides  that,  he  had  been  a  sportsman,  and  had  loved, 
above  all  things,  to  roam  through  the  woods  with  the  forester 
and  his  attendants,  in  search  of  game. 

While  these  things  were  going  on,  the  wife  had,  with  her  own 
earnings,  reared  four  children,  who  were  always  among  the 
tidiest  in  the  village.  Whenever  anyone  expressed  pity  that 
she  had  so  thoughtless  and  inconsiderate  a  husband,  she 
would  say,  "  Oh,  that's  all  right.  If  he  were  not  so  shiftless 
a  fellow,  he  would  never  have  married  me  ;  he  would  have 
gone  and  married  some  woman  better,  handsomer,  and 
richer  than  I  was." 

When  the  building  of  the  railway  was  begun,  he  gave  up 
his  situation  and  went  to  work  in  the  valley  ;  but  he  would 
never  bring  home  a  groschen  of  money.  Indeed,  on  one 
occasion,  when  he  received  a  larger  sum  than  usual,  he  drove 
up  in  a  carriage  with  two  comrades,  and  the  three  were  not 
content  until  the  last  kreutzer  had  been  spent. 

But  yet  with  all  this  no  word  of  complaint  ever  fell  from 
the  lips  of  his  wife ;  and  when,  at  last,  her  husband  lost,  his 
life  while  blasting  a  rock,  she  bewailed  his  death,  saying  that 
he  was  the  best  man  in  the  world. 

Two  of  her  sons  and  one  daughter  were  employed  at 
Mulhausen  ;  but  they  would  not  help  the  mother.  Carl, 
who  had  been  Joseph's  servant,  and  was  now  with  the  troops, 


WALDFRIED.,  j^j 

gave  all  his  earnings  to  her,  and  would  not  suffer  her  to 
accept  a  gift  from  any  one. 

When  Annette  knew  this,  she  was  all  attention  to  the 
spinner ;  but  it  required  much  clever  management  to  be 
able  to  do  her  a  service.  Besides  that,  it  was  awkward  that 
the  spinner  was  so  indistinct  of  speech,  that  with  the  excep- 
tion of  her  son  Carl  and  the  school-master's  wife,  there  was 
hardly  any  one  who  could  understand  her. 

Richard  and  Bertha  shook  their  heads  while  watching 
Annette's  movements,  and  could  not  refrain  from  comment- 
ing on  them.  But  my  wife  would  always  tell  them  that  An- 
nette was  of  an  active  temperament,  and  was  only  happy 
when  assisting  others.  She  also  told  them  that  Annette  had 
interested  herself  for  the  baker  Lerz's  victim  and  her  child, 
and  that  she  had  given  the  clergymen  of  the  neighboring 
villages  considerable  sums  to  be  distributed  among  the  poor. 
And,  further,  that  it  was  much  to  her  credit  that  she  would 
not  allow  herself  to  be  driven  away  from  her  work  by  rude- 
ness on  the  part  of  those  whom  she  was  trying  to  benefit. 

We  soon  had  an  amusing  instance  of  this. 

One  Sunday  afternoon,  while  we  were  up  in  the  arbor, 
Annette  had  seated  herself  with  Rothfuss  and  Martella  on 
a  bench  in  front  of  the  house.  She  was  trying  to  find  out 
from  Rothfuss  how  much  he  loved  his  horses  and  cattle. 

Rothfuss  knew  nothing  about  loving  them.  All  he  said 
was,  "  Feed  them  well,  and  they  will  work  for  you." 

She  was  quite  provoked  that  the  tinkling  of  the  bells  of 
the  cows  that  were  grazing  on  the  mountain  patches  was  in- 
harmonious. She  said  that  she  would  buy  bells  that  were  in 
accord  with  each  other,  and  present  them  to  the  owners  of 
the  cows.- 

She  conversed  quite  familiarly  with  Rothfuss  and  Martella, 
and  asked  them  to  look  upon  her  as  their  companion. 


142 


WALDFRTED. 


To  which  Rolhfuss  replied,  "  I  have  nothing  against  the 
Jews — they  are  all  the  same  to  me.  In  the  place  where  I 
was  born,  there  were  lots  of  Jews,  and  I  was  on  good  terms 
with  all  of  them.  Two  of  them  served  in  the  same  regiment 
with  me  ;  and  in  my  village  there  was  a  splendid  girl  whom 
they  called  '  the  little  beauty ; '  she  was  strong  and  healthy 
and  jolly.  She  loved  to  dance  with  me  ;  and,  if  I  could 
only  have  afforded  to  marry,  I  would  have  been  bound  to 
have  her.  And  you  may  take  my  word  for  it,  she  would  not 
have  refused  me. 

"  You  are  a  sensible  woman  ;  one  can  talk  to  you  about  all 
sorts  of  things.  You  are  not  like  Baroness  Arven,  who  once 
ordered  me  to  take  my  cap  in  my  hand  while  I  was  speaking 
to  her.  You  are  better  than  she  is. 

"  Yes,  indeed  ;  my  first  love  was  a  Jewess. 

"  And  then  there  was  Myerle  the  horse-dealer,  who  often 
came  to  see  us.  He  looks  just  like  you  ; — are  you  related 
to  him  ?  I  know  him  intimately ;  he  is  a  sharp  fellow,  and 
a  man  of  his  word,  and  always  gives  two  crown  thalers 
drink-money.  Of  late  he  has  been  trying  to  make  it  Prus- 
sian thalers,  but  that  won't  go  down. 

"  The  Jews  are  just  like  us  in  everything.  There  is  only 
one  thing  that  they  cannot  do — they  don't  know  how  to 
drink ;  and  they  don't  try  it,  either.  But  in  all  other  re- 
spects they  are  just  like  us.  '  He  who  is  wet  to  the  skin 
need  not  dread  the  rain.'  " 

"  And  you,  Martella,"  asked  Annette,  "  what  do  you  think 
of  the  Jews?" 

"  I  ?  I  don't  think  of  them  at  all.  I  want  nothing  to  do 
with  them.  In  the  forest  they  always  told  me  that  my  mother 
must  have  been  a  Jewess ;  but  it  is  not  true." 

"  Who  is  your  mother,  then  ?  " 

"  Who  ?    Why,  Madame  Cuckoo  ;— just  ask  her." 


WALDFRIED. 


143 


Martella  walked  away. 

Annette  joined  us  and  told  us  all  that  had  happened,  add- 
ing :  "One  is  always  getting  new  and  interesting  ideas. 
Rothfuss  and  Martella,  comparing  their  religion  with  mine, 
look  upon  themselves  as  nobles  who  vouchsafe  me  their 
favor.  I  accept  it  with  thanks." 

My  wife,  however,  looked  over  to  us  with  a  significant 
glance  that  seemed  quite  distinctly  to  say,  "  There,  you  can 
see  now  that  she  is  free  from  prejudice,  and  full  of  imperturb- 
able kindness." 

Notwithstanding  her  love  and  respect  for  us,  Annette 
found  great  pleasure  in  her  intimate  relations  with  the 
neighboring  family  of  Baron  Arven.  This  may  have  been 
the  result  of  her  having  formerly  been  kept  in  the  back- 
ground. 

Her  constant  journey  ings  to  and  fro  were  the  occasion  of 
our  making  some  delightful  acquaintances. 

Just  beyond  the  boundary  line,  where  I  owned  a  large 
piece  of  woodland,  there  resided  a  young  forester,  who  was 
of  noble  birth,  and  a  relative  of  Annette's  husband.  We  had 
before  that  been  strangers  to  each  other ;  but  Annette  knew 
how  to  draw  him  and  his  wife  into  our  circle,  and  we  were 
charmed  by  the  simple  manners  of  these  highly  cultivated 
people. 

Our  family  was  so  widely  extended  that  we  found  it  quite 
easy  to  trace  a  distant  relationship  to  our  newly  discovered 
friends.  The  young  wife  was  the  daughter  of  a  high  official. 
Though  living  in  the  woods,  she  did  not  neglect  her  intellect- 
ual life,  and  found  good  music  of  great  assistance  in  that 
regard.  She  had  also  been  able  to  bring  up  sturdy  boys  ; 
and  we  were  quite  pleased  to  learn  that  her  only  rule  with 
them  had  been  truthfulness  and  obedience.  These  two  re- 


WALDFRIED. 

quisites  had  been  firmly  and  inexorably  insisted  upon,  and 
as  a  result  the  boys  did  their  parents  great  credit. 

The  new  element  that  Annette  had  thus  introduced  into 
our  circle  often  caused  us  to  forget  that  the  very  next  hour 
might  bring  us  the  saddest  news. 


CHAPTER   III. 

IT  was  eventide.  The  clear  tones  of  the  village  bell  filled 
the  valley  and  were  echoed  back  from  the  mountains 
opposite.  The  young  woods  down  by  the  stone  wall  seemed 
transparent  with  the  reflection  of  the  rosy  sunset,  and  all 
looked  as  if  bathed  in  golden  clouds. 

We  were  sitting  in  the  arbor,  and  every  one  was  probably 
thinking  to  himself,  "Perhaps  at  this  very  moment  men  of 
the  same  nation— yea,  brothers — may  be  murdering  one 
another  on  the  battle-field." 

In  a  low  voice,  and  with  an  absence  of  all  that  resembled 
her  usual  excessive  excitability,  Annette  remarked  that  my 
wife  ought  to  feel  very  happy  to  think  that  she  had  planted 
yonder  wood. 

At  that  moment  we  saw  a  carriage  coming  up  the  hill. 

"It  is  father !  "  exclaimed  the  daughter  of  the  kreis-direc- 
tor,  and  ran  to  meet  him. 

We  observed  that  he  opened  the  carriage  door  for  her,  and 
that  she  entered  it  and  remained  with  him. 

Annette  remarked  that  she  had  given  orders  that  all  tele- 
grams should  be  sent  to  Herr  Von  Rontheim,  who  would  for- 
ward them  to  us  as  speedily  as  possible.  This  must  be  a 
matter  of  importance,  however,  as  he  had  come  in  person. 
But  let  his  tidings  be  what  they  may,  we  would  stand  by  and 
support  one  another. 

Rontheim  entered. 

He  brought  us  the  news  of  a  great  victory  gained  by  the 
Austrians,  who  were  said  to  have  penetrated  into  Silesia. 
10 


146 


WALDFRIED. 


His  manner  of  imparting  this  was  in  accord  with  our  feel- 
ings, and  was  quite  free  from  any  spirit  of  rejoicing.  A  brief 
telegram  had  brought  the  news. 

Rontheim  seemed  quite  ill  at  ease  and  soon  left,  taking 
his  daughter  and  Annette  with  him.  A  little  while  after  that, 
Joseph  arrived,  and  told  me  privately  that  he  wished  that 
Richard  and  I  would  come  over  to  his  house. 

I  was  struck  with  fear,  and  felt  that  there  was  bad  news  in 
store  for  me. 

Without  knowing  why,  I  felt  alarmed. 

When  I  entered  Annette's  apartment,  Rontheim  was 
seated  at  a  table  on  which  there  was  a  lighted  lamp.  In 
his  hand  there  was  a  newspaper.  He  did  not  rise  to  receive 
me,  but  requested  me  to  be  seated. 

He  grasped  my  hand  firmly  while  he  said,  "You  are  a 
strong  man,  a  just  father — no  father  can  be  blamed  for  what 
his  child  may  do. — Your  son  Ernst  has  deserted." 

Those  were  his  words :  I  have  written  them  down  with 
my  own  hand. "  Could  I,  at  that  time,  have  believed  that  I 
would  ever  be  able  to  do  this !  But  to  this  day,  I  cannot 
tell  what  rent  my  heart  and  crazed  my  brain.  All  that  I 
can  recollect  is  that  I  felt  as  if  a  bullet  were  piercing  my 
brain,  and  found  it  strange  that  I  knew  even  that  much  of 
what  was  going  on.  I  remember  Richard's  throwing  his 
arms  about  my  neck,  and  crying,  "  Father  !  Dear  father  ! " 
and  all  was  over. 

When  I  recovered  consciousness  my  first  thought  was, 
"  Why  live  again  ?  Death  has  been  conquered." 

The  next  thought  that  flashed  upon  me  was,  "But  my 
wife ! — She  foresaw  it  all,  yet  how  will  she  bear  this  bur- 
den?" 

Annette  came  up  to  me  and  seemed  to  guess  at  my 
thoughts,  for  with  a  voice  choked  with  tears  she  said : 


WALDFRTED. 


147 


"  Do  not  tell  your  wife  of  this  to-night.  In  the  morning, 
when  day  approaches,  if  you  wish  me  to  tell  her  of  this,  I 
am  at  your  service.  But  how  cold  your  hands  are  !" 

She  knelt  down  and  kissed  my  hands. 

The  director  handed  the  newspaper  to  Richard.  I 
noticed  how  his  hand  trembled  while  he  held  it.  I  asked  to 
have  it  handed  to  me,  and  read  the  proclamation  of  my 
son's  dishonor  and  the  order  for  his  arrest. 

When  I  at  last  started  to  return  home,  I  was  obliged,  for 
the  first  time  in  my  life,  to  lean  on  my  son  Richard  for  sup- 
port. Annette  had  asked  permission  to  accompany  me. 
We  declined  her  proffered  aid.  The  kind-hearted,  impulsive 
creature  was  all  gentleness  and  desire  to  assist  me. 

I  arrived  in  front  of  the  house.  There  stands  the  large  and 
well-ordered  house, — but  no  joy  will  ever  enter  there  again. 

The  wind  from  the  valley  was  swaying  the  red  beech  to 
and  fro ;  the  fountain  swelled  and  roared  while  its  waters 
glistened  in  the  broad  moonlight.  All  this  to  be  seen  again 
and  again,  and  yet — "  daily  suicide  " — 

"  What  are  you  saying,  father  ?  What  do  you  mean  by 
those  words  ?  "  asked  Richard. 

It  was  not  until  then  that  1  became  aware  of  my  having 
uttered  them. 

For  Ernst,  for  my  poor  child,  no  day  would  ever  more- 
begin  with  the  love  of  life.  "  Daily  suicide" — in  this  phrase 
his  deed  and  its  consequences  seemed  to  concentrate  them- 
selves. I  was  obliged  to  sit  clown  on  the  steps,  and  not 
until  then  was  I  able  to  shed  tears. 

How  often  Ernst  had  run  up  and  down  there !  I  could 
yet  remember  the  first  time  that  he  climbed  those  steps  on 
all  fours,  turning  his  pretty  head  with  its  light  curls  towards 
me  when  I  called  out  to  him,  and  waiting  quietly  until  I 
would  come  and  take  him  up  in  my  arms! 


148 


WALDFRIED. 


But  now  he  had  conjured  up  a  restless  demon  whom  no 
cry  or  supplication  could  exorcise. 

At  this  very  moment  I  can  distinctly  remember  how  I 
wished  that  all  the  sorrow  and  pain  might  descend  on  my 
own  head  and  be  gathered  up  into  my  own  heart,  in  order 
that  I  might  bear  them  for  others. 

"Master,  why  are  you  sitting  at  your  own  threshold  like 
a  strange  beggar?"  were  the  words  with  which  Rothfuss 
surprised  me.  "I  have  already  heard  what  our  madcap 
Ernst  has  done ;  do  not  let  that  grieve  you  to  death — that 
will  do  you  no  good.  In  this  world,  every  one  must  carry 
his  own  hide  to  market.  It  is  bad  enough  in  all  conscience, 
but  there  is  courage  in  it  for  all.  There  are  hundreds  and 
thousands  of  them  who  would  like  to  do  what  he  has  done ; 
but  they  follow  the  drum  with  its  rat-tat-tat,  and  put  on  airs 
into  the  bargain.  Do  you  know  what  I  think  of  this  mat- 
ter?— Do  not  interrupt  me,  Heir  Professor;  I  know  what  I 
am  talking  about — I  say  that  every  large  family  must  have 
its  black  sheep,  and  I  would  rather  a  thousand  times  have  a 
good-for-nothing  than  an  idiot,  the  very  sight  of  whom  makes 
one's  hair  stand  on  end. 

"  Yes,  indeed  ;  my  mother  was  right.  Her  favorite  maxim 
was :  '  Better  sour  than  rotten/  and  '  To  be  hard  of  hear- 
ing is  not  half  so  bad  as  to  have  poor  eyes.' 

"  In  every  family  there  is  something  ;  or,  as  the  poor 
woman  once  said :  *  There  is  something  everywhere, — ex- 
cept in  my  lard-pot,  where  there  is  nothing  at  all.' " 

Rothfuss  would  not  rest  until  I  got  up  again. 

I  went  up  the  steps  with  him  and  into  the  room.  He 
drew  off  my  boots,  and  was  full  of  kind  attentions. 

Addressing  me  in  a  whisper,  he  offered  to  tell  the  news  to 
his  mistress  in  the  morning,  as  he  thought  that  he  was  best 
fitted  for  the  task. 


WALDFRIED. 


149 


He  meant  to  speak  of  it  in  such  a  way  that  she  would 
take  it  as  his  stupid  talk  and  give  him  a  thorough  scolding, 
and  thus  wreak  her  anger  on  him.  He  thought  that  would 
be  the  best  way,  because  that  would  help  to  break  the  first 
shock  of  the  news,  and  then  it  would  be  easier  to  endure 
the  rest. 

The  only  other  thrng  that  troubled  Rothfuss  was  how  he 
might  stop  Funk's  evil  tongue.  He  felt  sure  that  with  the 
exception  of  Funk,  others  would  be  as  much  grieved  as  we 
were. 

That  was  the  trouble.  The  news  would  enlist  the  atten- 
tion of  the  busy  world,  those  who  pitied  as  well  as  those  who 
rejoiced  in  the  sufferings  of  others. 

But  what  matters  the  world  :  it  can  neither  help  nor  hin- 
der our  griefs. 

I  have  experienced  much  bitter  suffering  : — I  have  gazed 
into  the  grave  that  had  received  all  that  had  been  dearest  to 
me  on  earth,  but  no  pain  can  be  compared  to  that  of  grief 
for  a  son,  who,  though  living,  is  lost. 

Morning  had  already  dawned.  The  birds  were  singing  in 
the  trees ;  the  sun  had  returned ;  all  life  seemed  to  awake 
anew ;  and  at  last  I  found  an  hour's  sleep. 

"Destroyer  of  sleep!"  were  the  first  words  I  uttered 
when  I  awoke. 

How  can  he  enjoy  a  moment's  rest,  or  swallow  a  morsel 
of  food  while  he  knows  that  his  parents  are  sorrowing  for 
him. 

I  have  often  been  advised — it  is  easy  enough  to  say  the 
words — "  Make  up  your  mind  to  blot  his  name  from  your 
memory."  But  it  is  not  so  easy  to  follow  such  counsel. 

My  wife  softly  slumbered  through  the  whole  night.  Will 
she  ever  again  have  so  refreshing  a  sleep  ? 


CHAPTER   IV.    - 

THE  morning  was  bright  and  clear.  We  were  seated 
around  the  breakfast  table,  every  one  of  us  doubly 
oppressed.  We  were  grieved  on  our  own  account,  and 
troubled  by  the  thought  that  the  mother's  heart  was  soon  to 
become  rent  by  the  sad  tidings. 

Richard  had  told  the  news  to  Bertha. 

My  wife  seemed  to  be  watching  Bertha,  and  at  last  re- 
proved her  for  having  been  weeping  again.  "  It  is  our 
duty,"  said  she,  "to  accept  the  inevitable  with  resignation. 
Mankind  might  well  be  likened  to  the  plants  in  the  field, 
which  are  obliged  quietly  to  submit  to  the  storm  that  de- 
scends on  .their  heads." 

We  exchanged  hurried  glances,  but  Bertha  did  not  reply. 

"  Will  my  wife  be  as  strong  in  a  few  moments  from  now  ?  " 
was  the  question  I  inwardly  asked  myself. 

Rothfuss  was  heard  crack-ing  his  whip  in  front  of  the 
house.  He  was  about  to  drive  out  into  the  fields,  taking 
Martella  with  him. 

His  intention  was  to  tell  her  all  that  had  happened  as 
soon  as  he  reached  the  fields,  so  that  she  might  there  spend 
her  rage,  and  not  annoy  the  household  by  her  noise. 

Victor  rode  along  with  them. 

My  wife  inquired  whether  the  newspaper  had  not  yet  come, 
or  why  I  was  not  reading  it,  and  wished  to  know  what  was 
the  matter. 

The  moment  had  arrived.  I  gathered  up  all  the  courage 
that  was  yet  left  me,  and  said,  "  We  will  take  you  at  your 


WALDFRIED.  i$i 

word — '  It  is  our  duty  to  accept  the  inevitable  with  resig- 
nation.' " 

"What  is  it?     Tell  me." 

"  Our  son  Ernst  has — deserted  ! " 

"After  all!"  exclaimed  my  wife,  while  she  laid  her 
clinched  fists  on  her  heart,  as  if  to  prevent  it  from  bursting, 
and  with  compressed  lips  stared  into  vacancy. 

Fearing  that  she  would  faint,  the  children  and  I  rushed  to 
her  assistance. 

"  Never  mind ;  all  will  be  over  in  a  moment.  I  can 
now  breathe  again.  And  now,  I  beg  of  you  all,  be  silent." 
She  closed  her  eyes.  We  remained  standing  around  her  in 
silence.  Not  a  sound  was  heard,  save  the  rapid  ticking  of 
the  clocks  and  the  innocent  singing  of  the  thistle-finch. 

At  last,  she  removed  her  hands  from  her  face  and  gave 
way  to  a  torrent  of 'tears.  With  her  hands  folded  on  her 
breast,  and  softly,  without  a  loud  sign  of  pain,  she  thus 
lamented : 

"  O  my  son  !  My  poor  son  !  My  poor,  unhappy  child  ! 
You  are  now  a  fugitive  in  the  wide  world,  and  without  a 
home — lost  and  distracted — a  wandering  proof  of  the  con- 
fusion of  our  broken  household,  now  rent  in  twain  and 
bereft  of  peace.  His  heart  is  a  wayward  one.  It  is  easier 
to  spoil  a  human  being  than  to  improve  one.  Let  him  who 
believes  that  this  war  is  just  before  God  rise  up  and  plunge 
his  sword  into  my  son's  heart !  " 

She  had  raised  herself  while  uttering  the  last  sentence  ; 
when  she  finished,  she  fell  back  in  her  seat  again.  She 
then  suddenly  and  energetically  sat  up  again,  and  asked, 
'•'Does  Martella  know  of  this?" 

I  replied  that  Rothftiss  had  taken  her  out  into  the  fields 
with  him  in  order  to  tell  her  all. 

"It  is  well,"  she  answered.     "Give  me  the  newspaper, 


j£2  WALDFR1ED. 

that  I  may  read  the  letter  of  arrest.  This  was  the  reason 
the  director  came  to  us  yesterday  and  departed  without 
saying  good-by.  Give  me  the  advertisement  which  thou- 
sands are  now  reading — I  am  his  mother." 

1  was  obliged  to  tell  her  that  I  had  given  the  paper  to 
Rothfuss,  who  had  asked  for  it  in  order  that  he  might  show  it 
as  a  proof  to  Martella. 

My  wife  nodded  approvingly,  and  said,  "  Yes,  Martella. 
Listen  to  what  I  am  about  to  say.  Ernst  has  run  away 
because  he  was  unwilling  to  fight  in  this  fratricidal  war. 
That  is  true  enough,  as  far  as  it  goes  ;  I  feel  assured  of  that. 
But  let  me  tell  you  something  more — he  is  unfaithful — 
unfaithful  to  his  parents,  his  brothers  and  sisters,  and  his 
betrothed.  I  beg  of  you,  Henry,  do  not  contradict  me  ! 
Promise  me  one  thing." 

"Whatever  you  wish." 

"You,  my  husband,  and  you,  my  children,  faithfully 
promise  me  that,  when  I  am  no  longer  with  you,  you  will 
firmly  and  inviolably  cherish  Martella  as  a  child  of  the 
house  and  as  one  of  the  family." 

We  promised  all  that  she  asked. 

"I  have  one  other  request  to  make.  Whatever  may 
happen,  do  not  for  a  moment  conceal  aught  from  me ;  do 
no  violence  to  yourselves  for  my  sake.  I  can  support 
everything  as  long  as  I  know  all." 

Her  next  wish  was  that  we  should  all  go  out  into  the 
fields,  for  she  felt  sure  that  Rothfuss  would  not  be  able  to 
control  Martella,  who,  she  feared,  might  run  away  and  rush 
into  suffering  or  death. 

Richard  said  that  he  would  be  able  to  assist  Rothfuss, 
and  that  he  knew  the  direction  in  which  they  had  gone. 

He  hurried  away  to  meet  them. 

"  You  had  better  go  in  and  join  them,"  we  heard  Rich- 


WALDFRIED. 


153 


ard  say  as  he  left  the  house,  and  then  he  ran  off  on  his 
errand. 

A  moment  later,  Annette  joined  us.  Although  usually 
quite  courtly  in  her  manner,  she  was  now  diffident  ar/d 
timid,  and  in  heartfelt  tones  begged  us  to  consider  her  as 
one  of  us,  and  permit  her  to  assist  in  bearing  our  affliction. 

My  wife  extended  her  arms  towards  her,  and  for  the  first 
time  embraced  and  kissed  Annette. 

"  I  have  brought  smelling-salts  and  other  restoratives," 
said  Annette  in  a  cheerful  tone,  while  the  thick  tears  were 
running  down  her  cheeks.  "  But,  dear  Madame  Gustava, 
you  need  nothing  of  that  kind ;  you  are  as  firm  as  a  forest- 
tree." 

"  Ernst  will  never  again  return  to  his  forest,"  complained 
my  wife. 

Neither  Bertha  nor  I  were  able  to  utter  a  word,  but 
Annette  said  to  my  wife,  "  You  have  a  right  to  indulge  in 
the  deepest  grief.  I  shall  never  attempt  to  persuade  you 
otherwise.  I  know  how  galling  it  is  when  friends  come  and 
imagine  that  they  can  console  us  by  smoothing  over  or 
belittling  our  griefs.  It  is  well,  after  all,  that  I  am  with  you. 
It  is  indeed  true  that  I  only  feel  your  sorrows  through  sym- 
pathy, while  the  blow  itself  has  descended  on  your  heads. 
With  all  my  sincere  sympathy,  there  are  hours  when  I  can 
forget  your  sorrows,  and  am  thus  better  able  to  be  of  use  to 
you." 

My  wife  again  took  Annette's  hand  and  pressed  it  to  her 
own  forehead. 

"  Do  you  believe,"  said  my  wife,  addressing  Annette  ;  "do  l 
you  believe  that  Ernst  sees  his  actions  in  their  true  colors  ?  " 

"  I  do  not." 

"  I  hope  that  it  is  so.  Indeed,  I  really  trust  that  my 
child  docs  not  reason  clearly  on  this  subject.  I  would 


WALDFRIED. 

rather  have  him  think  himself  right  in  what  he  is  doing ;  for 
he  will  then  be  able  to  endure  his  days,  and  to  sleep  peace- 
fully at  night." 

"  How  happy  one  is  to  watch  the  growth  of  bright,  youth- 
ful memories  in  a  child's  soul ;  but  after  such  a  deed,  it  were 
kindest  to  wish  that  he  might  forget  everything."  And  then 
turning  towards  me,  she  added,  "  I  feel  so  badly  to  think 
that  my  favorite  maxim  is  now  dead." 

"  Which  ?  " 

"  When  I  was  asked  how  one  could  best  bring  up  chil- 
dren, I  would  always  answer,  *  Let  your  married  life  be 
pure,  for  thus  alone  can  you  have  good,  righteous  children.' 
But  it  seems  that  even  this  is  no  longer  the  case." 

No  one  replied.  Annette  told  us  that  she  had  just 
received  a  dispatch.  The  tidings  of  victory  were  false,  and 
the  very  reverse  of  the  first  news  was  the  true  report,  for  the 
Prussians  had  penetrated  into  Bohemia. 

"  Ah,  how  soon  there  will  be  more  grieving  mothers  !  If 
the  woful  cries  of  all  these  mothers  could  be  concentrated 
into  one  utterance,  who  is  there  that  could  hear  it,  and  still 
live?" 

Thus  lamented  my  wife.     We  sat  in  silence. 

Richard  entered,  saying,  "  Mother  is  right ;  she  looks  far 
ahead."  He  told  us  that  Martella  had  shouted  with  joy 
when  Rothfuss  had  lold  her  of  Ernst's  flight ;  she  had  praised 
his  adroitness. 

And  Victor  called  out,  "  For  shame  !  Uncle  Ernst  is  a 
coward  !  For  shame  !  Uncle  Ernst  is  a  bad  man  !  " 

Martella  raised  the  scythe  and  was  about  to  hurl  it  at 
Victor,  but  Rothfuss  fortunately  parried  the  stroke.  Mar- 
tella now  wrestled  with  Rothfuss,  and  called  out  to  Victor, 
"You  soldier's  child!  Keep  quiet,  you  soldier's  child!" 
She  seemed  to  use  the  words  reproachfully. 


WALDFRIED.  155 

Suddenly  she  exclaimed,  "  I  know  where  Ernst  is !  I 
am  going  to  him — away,  away  from  all  of  you  ! " 

She  started  on. a  brisk  run,  but  was  caught  in  the  arms  of 
Richard,  who  was  just  coming  up. 

When  Richard  told  ns  all  this,  his  voice  seemed  broken, 
and,  for  some  time,  he  stood  with  his  eyes  cast  on  the 
ground.  Then  he  went  on  to  tell  us  that  Martella  had  be- 
come quiet  and  gentle,  and  had  willingly  consented  to  ride 
home  again,  when  he  told  her  that  mother  wanted  to  see  her ; 
and  that  now  she  was  down  in  the  barn,  and' was  sitting  on 
the  clover,  waiting  until  she  was  sent  for. 

Martella  was  called  up  to  the  house.  When  she  entered 
the  room,  my  wife  requested  us  to  leave.  I  have  never 
learned  what  passed  between  them. 

I  was  quite  surprised  at  what  Rothfuss  told  me. 

When  Richard  caught  Martella  in  his  arms,  she  cried  out, 
"  No,  no ;  you  shall  not  kiss  me  ! "  and  pushed  him  from 
her  with  such  force,  that  he  would  have  been  thrown  to  the 
ground  if  Rothfuss  had  not  come  to  his  assistance. 

Richard  had  told  us  nothing  of  that. 


CHAPTER  V. 

WHEN  Edward  Levi,  the  iron  merchant,  came  to  out 
village,  he  cautiously  went,  first  of  all,  to  my  nephew 
Joseph ;  he  then  sent  for  me,  and  handed  me  a  letter  from 
Ernst.     It  was' written  in  a  firm  hand,  and  read  as  follows  : 

"To  my  parents  I  say  farewell.  I  leave  my  so-called 
Fatherland  forever. 

"  It  grieves  me  to  know  that  I  must  grieve  yon,  but  I 
cannot  help  it. 

"  If  thousands  had  done  what  I  did,  it  would  have  been 
praised  as  a  noble  deed.  Must  we  sacrifice  ourselves  to  this 
degenerate  Fatherland  ? 

"  I  cannot  murder  my  compatriots,  nor  do  I  care  to  allow 
them  to  murder  me. 

"  Take  care  of  Martella  for  my  sake.  I  will  write  to  her 
myself. 

"YOUR  LOST  SON." 

"You  must  pluck  such  a  child  from  your  heart — you  must 
forget  him  entirely." 

These  were  Joseph's  words  after  he  had  read  the  letter. 
Many  others  spoke  just  as  he  did.  But  he  who  has  ever 
heard  the  word  "  father  "  from  the  lips  of  his  child,  knows 
that  this  is  impossible.  From  that  time  I  always  said  to 
myself,  "  No  day  without  sorrow."  Do  you  know  what  it 
means  never  to  have  a  pure,  bright,  happy  day  ? — "  no  day 
without  sorrow  ?  "  And  yet,  I  admit  it,  I  was  not  without 
hope.  I  felt  a  quiet  assurance  that  Ernst  would  be  all  right 


WALDFRIED. 

in  the  end.  How  it  was  to  be  brought  about,  I  d'd  not 
know ;  but  I  felt  that  the  seeds  of  indestructible  virtue  and 
purity  were  yet  lurking  amidst  this  mass  of  ruin  and  rotten- 
ness. There  might  yet  be  a  turn  in  the  tide  of  affairs,  that 
would  draw  the.  current  of  my  son's  life  into  the  proper  chan- 
nel. My  wife  mentioned  his  name  only  once  after  that. 
But  her  love  for  the  child  was  stronger  and  firmer  than  her 
resolution. 

She  took  pains  to  be  about  and  to  keep  up  an  interest  in 
all  that  was  going  on  :  but,  from  the  moment  that  she  was 
shocked  by  the  news  of  Ernst's  desertion,  it  was  evident  that 
it  cost  her  an  effort  to  control  her  will. 

She  seemed  constantly  tired.  She  rarely  went  out — hardly 
ever  as  far  as  the  garden,  where  she  would  walk  but  a  short 
distance  before  sitting  down  on  a  bench.  She  would  often 
sit  in  an  absent  manner,  gazing  into  vacancy,  and  when  ad- 
dressed would  seem  as  if  hurriedly  collecting  her  thoughts. 

Martella  had  also  received  a  letter.  It  contained  a  ring  ; 
but  she  would  not  show  any  one,  not  even  my  wife,  what 
Ernst  had  written.  Edward  Levi,  the  iron  merchant,  acted 
with  great  good  sense  and  delicacy.  He  attempted  neither 
to  explain  things  nor  to  console  us ;  but  gave  us  the  simple 
account  of  how  the  affair  had  happened.  If  it  had  not  re- 
lated to  my  own  son,  and  had  not  been  so  full  of  sadness, 
Ernst's  ingenuity  in  the  matter  would  even  have  afforded  us 
amusement. 

It  was  late  in  the  evening  when  he  arrived  at  the  town  in 
which  Levi  resided.  He  went  to  the  police-office  at  once, 
and  ordered  a -forester  whom  he  found  there  to  produce  Ed- 
ward Levi,  who  arrived  shortly  afterward,  and  to  whom 
Ernst  used  these  words  : 

"  You  have  been  a  soldier  and  can  be  trusted.  I  shall 
confide  my  secret  to  you." 


WALDFRILD. 

He  then  informed  him,  with  an  air  of  great  secrecy,  that 
he  had  been  ordered  to  enter  the  Prussian  lines  as  a  spy, 
and  requested  him  to  provide  him  at  once  with  some  French 
money  and  the  dress  of  a  Jewish  cattle-dealer ;  and  also  to 
bring  to  him  a  cattle-dealer  provided  with  a  correct  pass- 
port. 

After  all  this  had  been  successfully  accomplished,  Ernst 
wrote  the  two  letters  and  handed  them  to  Levi,  with  instruc- 
tions not  to  deliver  them  until  three  days  had  elapsed. 

He  started  off  with  his  companion.  On  the  way,  he 
asked  him  to  show  him  his  passport :  it  was  handed  to  him 
but  not  returned.  He  carefully  instructed  the  cattle-dealer 
to  address  him  by  the  name  of  Rothfuss. 

"Why,  that  is  the  name  of  the  old  serv.v/c  that  your  father 
thinks  so  much  of  .L" 

"That  is  the  very  reason  I  have  cho^n  it ;  you  will  have 
no  difficulty  in  remembering  it.  Whal  .is  my  name  ? 

"  The  same  as  the  servant's." 

«  No — but  what  is  it  ?  " 

"  Rothfuss.  Why,  every  child  knov  3  the  name.  Might  I 
inquire — " 

"  No  ;  you  need  ask  no  questions." 

They  journeyed  on  together  as  far  as  Kehl,  where  Ernst 
suddenly  disappeared.  The  drover  waited  all  day,  in  the 
vain  hope  of  seeing  him  again,  and  at  last  returned  home. 

Ernst  had  in  all  likelihood  gone  to  my  sister,  who  lives 
in  the  Hagenau  forest,  or  to  my  brother-in-law,  the  director 
of  the  water-works  on  the  Upper  Rhine.  Before,  leaving,  he 
handed  a  bag  of  money  that  belonged  to  the  state  to  Ed- 
ward Levi,  for  safe-keeping. 

Joseph,  who  was  always  ready  t^  assist  others,  at  once  of- 
fered to  journey,  after  Ernst,  in  tl  c  hope  of  overtaking  him 
and  consulting  wvh  him  as  to  hi?  future. 


WALDFRIED.  !  59 

I  had  instructed  Rothfuss  to  make  up  a  package  of  the 
clothes  that  Ernst  had  left  behind  him,  and  I  was  at  Joseph's 
house  when  he  brought  the  bundle  there. 

Martella  wanted  to  accompany  Joseph  ;  but,  finding  that 
he  would  not  consent,  she  turned  around  to  her  dog,  and 
said:  "Pincher,  go  with  Joseph  and  hunt  your  master !" 

The  dog  looked  up  at  her,  as  if  knowing  what  she  said,  and 
then  ran  after  Joseph. 

While  I  was  yet  with  Joseph,  a  copy  of  our  newspaper 
came  to  hand ;  it  had  been  sent  to  me  marked. 

The  marked  passages  read  as  follows  : 

"Father  Noah,  the  Prussian  lickspittle" — I  recognized 
Funk  by  these  very  words — "  has  allowed  a  dove  to  desert 
from  his  ark. 

"We  cannot  but  regard  the  rumor  that  the  father  had 
urged  his  son  to  take  this  step,  because  of  his  own  aversion 
to  fighting  against  the  beloved  Prussians,  as  a  malicious 
invention. 

"  We  do  not  believe  the  party  of  these  beggarly  Prussians, 
or  this  weak-minded  old  gray-beard,  endowed  with  the  requi- 
site firmness. 

"But  the  noble  Caffre's  pride  in  his  virtue  must  have  re- 
ceived a  fearful  blow." 

I  must  admit  that  this  low  personal  attack  gave  me  much 
pain.  I  was,  however,  more  grieved  to  think  that  party 
hatred  could  induce  men  to  indulge  in  such  abuse. 

Joseph  remarked,  "One  should  indeed  always  have  an 
enemy,  in  order  to  find  out  what  criticism  and  explanation 
our  deeds  may  be  subjected  to." 

Joseph  was  a  burgomaster.  The  game-keeper  came  to 
report  to  him. 

My  very  heart  trembled  with  fear,  and  I  felt  ashamed  of 
myself  in  the  presence  of  the  game-keeper. 


WALDFRIED. 

He  had  the  description  and  order  of  arrest  for  my  son  in 
his  pocket. 

One  does  not  find  how  far  and  how  deep  honor  has  spread 
its  roots,  until  it  is  lost. 

Unrest,  the  most  hateful  demon  in  the  world,  had  been 
conjured  up  in  our  house. 

Now  that  our  pride  was  broken,  we  at  last  noticed  how 
proud  we  had  been. 

One  day,  when  walking  through  the  village,  I  met  the 
perjured  baker,  Lerz  of  Hollerberg.  He  extended  his  hand 
to  me  in  a  friendly  manner.  Did  he  regard  me  as  one  of 
his  equals?  I  withdrew  my  hand. 

He  shrugged  his  shoulders  contemptuously  and  went  on 
his  way. 

The  first  neighbor  who  visited  me  was  Baron  Arven,  who 
lives  about  a  mile  and  a  half  from  our  house. 

I  believe  I  have  not  yet  referred  to  this  man.  His  digni- 
fied and  quiet  demeanor  betokened  a  really  brave  and  noble 
character.  He  was  just  what  he  seemed  to  be — free  from 
all  pretence  or  deceit. 

I  must  add  a  few  words  in  regard  to  his  family.  Follow- 
ing the  bent  of  most  of  the  dwellers  in  our  part  of  the  coun- 
try, he  had  gone  down  the  Danube  and  had  entered  the 
Austrian  army.  He  afterward  left  the  service  and  returned 
to  the  family  estate,  bringing  with  him  a  wife  who  was  a  na- 
tive of  Bohemia,  and  who  held  but  little  intercourse  with  the 
neighborhood.  Her  only  familiar  companions  were  the 
clergy. 

The  Bishop  had  stopped  there  on  two  occasions  while 
making  his  pastoral  journeys. 

She  led  a  life  of  seclusion  in  the  castle,  or  rather  the  con- 
vent ;  for  the  estate  on  which  they  lived  had,  at  one  time, 
belonged  to  a  religious  order. 


WALD  FRIED.  jgj 

The  Baron  had  two  sons,  splendid  fellows,  who  were  serv- 
ing in  the  cavalry.  He  is  a  member  of  our  upper  chamber. 
He  is  a  man  of  but  few  words,  but  always  votes  with  the 
moderate  liberals. 

He  has  no  respect  for  the  people  ;  their  coarse  morals 
and  manners  are  repugnant  to  him.  He  does  not  deny  that 
mankind  in  general  have  equal  rights ;  but,  as  individuals, 
he  would  only  accord  them  such  consideration  as  their  edu- 
cation, their  means,  or  their  social  position  would  entitle  them 
to.  In  this  respect  he  is  a  thorough  aristocrat. 

The  farmers  speak  of  him  with  love  and  veneration,  al- 
though he  is  never  friendly  towards  them.  He  is  very  active 
as  the  President  of  our  Agricultural  Association.  He  has 
the  finest  cattle  and  the  best  machines,  and  his  special 
hobby  is  to  stock  the  many  woodland  streams  and  lakes  of 
our  vicinity  with  fish. 

He  is  passionately  fond  of  the  chase  and  of  fishing,  and 
possesses  the  art  of  getting  through  with  his  day  in  the  most 
approved  and  knightly  manner.  Rautenkron  acts  as  his 
forest-keeper. 

That  very  day,  the  Baron  came  riding  along,  followed  by 
his  two  fine,  large  dogs.  He  alighted  at  Joseph's  house  and 
saluted  Annette,  with  whom  he  had  become  acquainted  at 
the  capital,  for  he  spent  several  months  there  with  his 
family  every  winter.  The  family  of  Von  Arven  owned  an 
old  mansion  in  the  city. 

He  came  up  to  me,  offered  me  his  hand  in  silence,  and 
seated  himself. 

I  could  not  help  thinking  of  some  words  from  the  Book 
of  Job,  that  had  always  so  deeply  affected  me :   "And  none' 
spake  a  word  unto  him,  for  they  saw  that  his  grief  was  very 
great." 

"My  dear  neighbor,"  he  at  las^said,  "I  see  that  you,  too, 

X 


jfo  WALDFRIED. 

have  been  highly  assessed  in  the  impost  of  misfortune  that 
every  one  of  us  must  pay.  I  shall  spare  you  any  words  of 
attempted  consolation,  and  only  add  that  there  are  thousands 
who  would  like  to  do  just  as  your  son  has  done." 

And  then,  in  his  calm  and  collected  tone,  he  spoke  of 
this  horrid  war,  in  which  Germans  were  righting  against  each 
other.  Napoleon's  darling  hope  was  that  Austria  and  Prus- 
sia might  mutually  weaken  each  other,  so  that  he  might  be 
the  master  and  the  arbiter  of  peace,  and  could  then  dictate 
his  own  terms.  Arven  had  at  one  time  been  an  Austrian 
officer,  and  was  naturally  not  partial  to  Prussia.  He  had  an 
inborn  aversion  to  Northern  harshness ;  but  with  his  knowl- 
edge of  the  organization  of  the  Austrian  armies,  he  felt  free 
to  say  that  Prussia  would  be  victorious.  Although  both  of 
his  sons  were  in  our  army,  he  said  this  with  great  calmness. 

The  Baron's  presence  exerted  a  gentle,  soothing  influence 
on  our  household.  When  I  told  my  wife  that  he  had  ex- 
pressed a  wish  to  speak  with  her,  she  came  into  the  room ; 
and  when  the  two  were  conversing  with  each  other,  it  was 
like  a  beautiful  song  of  mourning. 

The  Baron's  presence  always  produ'ced  a  subdued  tone, 
an  atmosphere  of  quiet  refinement — an  influence  like  a 
subtile,  pleasing  perfume  lingered  in  the  room  long  after  he 
had  taken  his  departure. 

And  now,  when  he  was  conversing  with  my  wife,  she  gave 
utterance  to  thoughts  that  otherwise  we  might  never  have 
become  acquainted  with.  When  conversing  with  strangers, 
she  revealed  far  more  of  her  pure  and  elevated  views  of  the 
v/orld  than  when  she  was  with  us  alune. 

Shortly  after  the  Baron's  departure,  we  were  visited  by 
Counsellor  Reckingen,  who  came  over  from  the  city  to  see 
us.  He  usually  lived  in  strict  seclusion  from  the  world. 
While  sailing  on  Lake  Constance,  he  had  lost  his  young 


WALDFRIED.  16$ 

wife.  He  had  plunged  in  after  her,  and  had  succeeded  in 
reaching  the  bank  with  her,  only  to  find  that  life  had  fled. 
Since  that  time,  he  had  lived  in  solitude,  devoting  himself  to 
the  education  of  the  little  daughter  who  was  left  to  him. 

Under  these  circumstances,  I  could  not  but  appreciate 
his  kindness  in  paying  me  this  visit. 

He  seemed  to  have  become  quite  unused  to  conversa- 
tion. He  said  but  little,  and  soon  went  out  into  the  garden 
in  front  of  our  house,  in  order  to  plant  some  rose-slips  that 
he  had  brought  with  him. 

I  was  greatly  gratified  by  the  visit  of  a  deputation  of 
n:y  constituents.  It  consisted  of  three  esteemed  farmer- 
burgomasters  of  the  neighborhood.  They  made  no  allusion 
to  the  grief  which  had  befallen  me  ;  our  conversation  re- 
ferred only  to  the  war ;  and  when  Martella  brought  in  wine, 
they  looked  at  the  child  with  curious  eyes. 


CHAPTER  VI. 

OUGHT  we  to  bear  the  blame  of  our  son  Ernst's  hav- 
ing wandered  from  the  right  path  ? 

By  our  example  and  precept  we  have  guided  our  children 
in  the  path  of  virtue,  but  who  can  control  their  souls  ?  I 
have  caused  many  a  fallow  soil  to  bear  fruit,  and  up  on  the 
bleak  hills  have  raised  sturdy  trees.  Nature's  law  is  un- 
changing ;  but  if  not  even  a  tree  can  mature  without  harm 
coining  to  it,  how  much  less  can  a  human  soul  be  expected 
to  do  so.  We  have  lived  to  see  naught  but  what  is  good  and 
proper  in  our  son  Richard.  His  development  is  so  natural 
and  consistent.  In  his  earliest  youth,  he  decided  to  devote 
himself  to  science.  He  has  steadily  advanced,  swerving 
neither  to  the  right  nor  the  left,  and  has  always  been  full  of 
the  conscious  power  of  the  clear  and  temperate  mind  that 
grasps  the  laws  underlying  the  phenomena  presented  by  the 
world  of  thought  and  of  action. 

We  can  neither  take  credit  to  ourselves,  in  the  one 
instance,  nor  acknowledge  that  we  were  in  fault  in  the 
other. 

My  wife  had  been  true  to  herself,  and  yet  full  of  resigna- 
tion in  the  first  shock  of  this  bitter  grief;  but  now  there 
came  an  insurmountable  desire  to  quarrel  with  her  lot,  and 
the  puzzling  question,  "Why  should  this  happen  just  to 
us  ?  "  was  again  awakened. 

I  dislike  to  admit  it,  but  truth  forces  me  to  say  that 
this  was  brought  about  by  the  arrival  of  my  daughter 
Johanna. 


WALDFRIED.  165 

Johanna  also  had  her  troubles.  Her  husband  was  sickly, 
her  son  was  in  the  army,  and  she  seemed  chosen  for  suffer- 
ing; but  chosen  by  reason  of  a  higher  faith.  With  inconsid- 
erate zeal,  she  attempted  to  awaken  the  same  faith  in  us. 
At  that  very  moment,  she  thought,  when  we  were  crushed 
and  bowed  down  by  sorrow,  our  redemption  should  take 
place.  She  assigned  the  impiety  of  our  household  as  the 
cause  of  our  scon's  disobedience. 

The  education  which  my  wife  had  received  from  her  father 
was,  as  some  would  call  it,  a  heathen  one;  for  she  had 
received  more  instruction  from  the  classics  than  from  the 
Bible. 

We  were  seated  in  our  statue  gallery.  The  door  that  led 
to  the  garden  was  open ;  my  wife  had  been  eagerly  reading 
from  a  book,  which  she  now  laid  aside  with  the  remark, 
"  That  does  one  good." 

"  What  were  you  reading  ?  "  inquired  Johanna. 

My  wife  made  no  answer,  and  Johanna  repeated  her  ques- 
tion, when  she  said,  *'  I  have  been  reading  the  Antigone  of 
Sophocles,  and  I  find  that  I  am  right." 

"In  what  respect?" 

"  It  has  renewed  my  recollection  of  an  idea  of  my  father's. 
When  I  was  reading  the  Antigone  aloud  'to  him  for  the 
first  time,  he  said,  If  a  woman  acted  in  this  way,  she  would 
be  doing  right ;  but  a  brother  should  not  have  done  so.  With 
a  sister,  or  with  a  mother,  the  natural  law  of  love  of  kindred 
is  above  that  of  the  state,  which  would  have  treated  the 
brother  as  a  traitor  to  his  country.  And  in  this  lies  the  deeply 
tragic  element — that  innocence  and  guilt  are  so  closely 
interwoven,  and  that  two  considerations  are  battling  with 
each  other.  You  men  may  pass  judgment  on  Ernst ;  you 
require  unconditional  submission  to  the  lawful  authorities. 
You  are  right,  because  you  are  men  of  the  law.  But,  with 


I(56  'WALDFRIED. 

Antigone,  I  rest  myself  upon  that  higher  law  which  is  far 
above  all  laws  that  states  may  frame  ! 

"  *  It  lives  neither  for  to-day  nor  for  yesterday,  but  for  all  time, 
And  none  can  know  since  when.' 

This  book  is  to  me  a  sacred  one." 

"  Mother ! "  cried  Johanna,  with  a  voice  trembling  with 
emotion,  "  mother,  how  can  you  say  that,  white  I  here  have 
the  only  sacred  book  in  my  hand  ?  " 

.  "In  its  own  sense,  that,  too,  is  sacred;  but  it  teaches  me 
nothing  of  the  deep  struggles  'between  the  human  heart  and 
the  laws  of  the  state. " 

"Mother,"  cried  Johanna,  kneeling  before  her;  "here  is 
the  Bible.  I  implore  you  to  give  up  those  profane  books  ; 
they  cannot  help  you.  Listen  to  the  Word  of  God  !  " 

"  To  me  he  speaks  through  these  books,"  answered  my 
wife. 

"Mother,  we  are  mourning  for  the  lost  son." 

"  Our  son  is  not  lost ;  he  is  a  sad  sacrifice." 

Richard  entered.  Mother  said  to  him,  "  Read  me  the 
story  from  the  Gospel." 

"What  do  you  refer  to  ?"  inquired  Richard. 

"  Mother  means  the  Parable  of  the  Prodigal  Son,"  inter- 
rupted Johanna ;  and  holding  the  Bible  on  high,  she  contin- 
ued :  "  Here  it  is  :  Gospel  of  St.  Luke,  fifteenth  chapter, 
eleventh  verse." 

"  Not  you,  but  Richard,  shall  read  it." 

"But,  mother—" 

"Richard,  I  wish  you  to  read  it." 

He  had  just  taken  the  book,  when  Annette  entered.  She 
asked  whether  she  was  disturbing  them. 

My  wife  said  that  she  was  not,  and  requested  her  to  sit 
down  at  her  side. 


WALDFRIED. 

In  a  calm  and  full  voice  Richard  read  : 

"  '  And  he  said,  A  certain  man  had  two  sons  : 

"  '  And  the  younger  of  them  said  to  his  father,  Father,  give 
me  the  portion  of  goods  that  falleth  to  me.  And  he  divided 
unto  them  his  living. 

" '  And  not  many  days  after,  the  younger  son  gathered  all 
together,  and  took  his  journey  into  a  far  country,  and  there 
wasted  his  substance  with  riotous  living. 

"  '  And  when  he  had  spent  all,  there  arose  a  mighty  famine 
in  that  land ;  and  he  began  to  be  in  want. 

"  *  And  he  went  and  joined  himself  to  a  citizen  of  that 
country ;  and  he  sent  him  into  his  fields  to  feed  swine. 

"  'And  he  would  fain  have  filled  his  belly  with  the  husks 
that  the  swine  did  eat ;  and  no  man  gave  unto  him. 

"  '  And  when  he  came  to  himself,  he  said,  How  many  hired 
servants  of  my  father's  have  bread  enough  and  to  spare,  and 
I  perish  with  hunger  ! 

"  '  I  will  arise  and  go  to  my  father,  and  will  say  unto 
him,  Father,  I  have  sinned  against  heaven,  and  before 
thee. 

"  '  And  am  no  more  worthy  to  be  called  thy  son  :  make  me 
as  one  of  thy  hired  servants. 

"  '  And  he  arose,  and  came  to  his  father.  But  when  he  was 
yet  a  great  way  off,  his  father  saw  him,  and  had  compassion, 
and  ran,  and  fell  on  his  neck,  and  kissed  him. 

"  '  And  the  son  said  unto  him,  Father,  I  have  sinned  against 
heaven,  and  in  thy  sight,  and  am  no  more  worthy  to  be 
called  thy  son. 

"  '  But  the  father  said  to  his  servants,  Bring  forth  the  best 
robe,  and  put  it  on  him ;  and  put  a  ring  on  his  hand,  and 
shoes  on  his  feet: 

"  '  And  bring  hither  the  fatted  calf,  and  kill  it;  and  let  us 
cat,  and  be  merry  : 


j68  WALDFRIED. 

"  '  For  this  my  son  \vas  dead,  and  is  alive  again  ;  he  was 
lost,  and  is  found.  '  And  they  began  to  be  merry. 

"  *  Now  his  elder  son  was  in  the  field  :  and  as  he  came  and 
drew  nigh  to  the  house,  he  heard  music  and  dancing, 

"  *  And  he  called  one  of  the  servants,  and  asked  what  these 
things  nTearit. 

"  'And  he  said  unto  him,  Thy  brother  is  come;  and  thy 
father  hath  killed  the  fatted  calf,  because  he  hath  received 
him  safe  and  sound. 

"  *  And  he  was  angry,  and  would  not  go  in  :  therefore 
came  his  father  out  and  entreated  him. 

" '  And  he  answering  said  to  his  father,  Lo,  these  many 
years  do  I  serve  thee,  neither  transgressed  I  at  any  time  thy 
commandments  ;  and  yet  thou  never  gavest  me  a  kid,  that 
I  might  make  merry  with  my  friends. 

"  '  But  as  soon  as  this  thy  son  was  come,  which  hath  de- 
voured thy  living  with  harlots,  thou  hast  killed  for  him  the 
fatted  calf. 

"  *  And  he  said  unto  him,  Son,  thou  art  ever  with  me,  and 
all  that  I  have  is  thine. 

"  '  It  was  meet  that  v:e  should  make  merry,  and  be  glad  : 
for  this  thy  brother  was  dead,  and  is  alive  again ;  and  was 
lost,  and  is  found.'  '* 

When  Richard  had  finished,  he  placed  his  hand  on  the 
open  book  and  said,  "  This  story  has  much  dramatic  inter- 
est. The  father,  the  two  sons,  the  servant,  are  clearly  and 
strikingly  drawn  ;  and  with  correct  judgment;  the  mother  is 
not  mentioned,  for  here  it  would  not  do  to  have  double 
notes — a  variation  of  emotion  on  the  part  of  the  father  and 
one  on  the  part  of  the  mother.  I  might,  indeed,  say  that  a 
mother  would  have  dwelt  on  the  appearance  her  son  pre- 
sented on  his  return;  while  here  it  is  left  unnoticed. 
Further—" 


WALDFRIED. 

"  What  do  you  mean  ?  You  are  not  among  your  stu- 
dents," angrily  interrupted  Johanna. 

"You  are  right,"  continued  Richard,  with  a  quiet  smile; 
"  my  students  are  polite  enough  to  permit  me  to  finish  a 
sentence  without  interrupting  me.  1  will  also  state,  first  of 
all,  that  this  ingenious  parable  makes  no  mention  of  the 
sister.  I  do  not  know  what  a  sister  would  have  said  in  that 
affair." 

Johanna  jumped  from  her  seat  in  anger  ;  her  features 
seemed  distorted  with  passion.  She  opened  her  mouth  to 
answer  him,  but  could  not  utter  a  word. 

"Shall  I  go  on,  mother?"  asked  Richard. 

"  Of  course  ;  speak  on." 

"  In  the  first  place,  the  pure  spirit  which  here  reveals  it- 
self is  as  fully  acknowledged  by  us  as  by  the  pious  be- 
lievers. 

"  To  me  the  all-important  point  is,  that  it  illustrates  a  view 
of  the  relation  between  parents  and  children,  which  is  com- 
pletely the  reverse  of  that  fostered  by  the  ancient  civiliza- 
tion, in  which  the  children  suffer  for  the  sins  of  their  parents. 
Just  think  of  the  curse  of  the  Atrides.  In  our  days,  it  is 
quite  different,  and  the  fate  of  the  parents — their  happiness 
as  well  as  their  sorrow — depends  upon  the  conduct  of  their 
children. 

"  The  individual  to  whom  such  affliction  conies  is  subject 
to  the  great  and  universal  law  of  the  newer  life." 

"  Is  there  anything  else  you  would  like  to  say  ?  "  inquired 
Johanna,  in  an  angry  voice.  She  had  some  time  before  that 
snatched  the  Bible  out  of  Richard's  hands,  and  had  been 
reading  in  it  ever  since,  as  if  she  thought  that  the  best  way 
to  counteract  the  influence  of  the  heresies  he  had  been  ut- 
tering. With  all  that,  she  seemed  to  hear  every  word  that 
was  said. 


I/O 


V/ALDFRIED. 


"  I  certainly  have,  if  you  will  permit  me.  To  me  this 
story  seems  a  repetition,  in  anew  shape,  of  a  subject  already 
treated  in  the  same  book.  The  story  of  Joseph  in  Egypt  is 
a  family  history  that  borders  on  the  region  of  fable,  narrated 
without  any  regard  to  the  moral  that  underlies  it,  and  yet 
representing  to  us  the  reward  of  innocence.  This  story 
which  tells  of  a  son  who  had  been  a  real  sinner,  and  for  that 
reason  was  not  permitted  to  return  as  a  viceroy  amid  joy  and 
splendor,  but  in  the  garb  of  a  beggar,  has  another  lesson  for 
us.  Viewed  from  the  stand-point  of  the  Old  or  New  Testa- 
ment, or  even  by  our  own  feelings,  it  tells  the  story  of  redemp- 
tion. Yes,  every  human  being  who  falls  into  sinful  ways,  shall 
be  obliged  to  eat  the  husks  ;".'...  but  he  is  not  lost. 
When  through  self-knowledge  his  soul  has  been  humbled  in 
the  dust,  He  who  never  fails  will  lift  him  up  again,  for  it  is 
far  easier  to  avoid  sin  than,  before  God  and  one's  own  soul, 
to  confess  having  sinned." 

After  a  pause  of  a  few  moments,  Richard  continued : 
"  There  is  an  excellent  painting  of  the  Prodigal's  Return. 
It  is  by  Fiihrich.  The  artist  has  chosen  the  moment  when 
the  father  is  embracing  his  long-lost  son,  now  kneeling  at 
his  feet ;  the  son,  however,  dares  not  venture  to  embrace  his 
father ;  bent  down  towards  the  earth,  he  folds  his  hands 
upon  his  breast  in  humble,  silent  gratitude." 

Johanna  seemed  to  think  that  she  might  as  well  abandon 
all  attempts  to  change  our  views  of  religious  matters.  She 
arose  from  her  seat  and,  pressing  the  Bible  to  her  bosom, 
left  the  room  without  uttering  another  wurd. 

"  Come  into  the  garden  with  me,"  said  my  wife  to  Rich- 
ard. I  was  left  alone  with  Annette.  Great  tears  were 
rolling  down  her  cheeks.  After  a  little  while  she  said  that 
now  she.  was  at  last  really  converted,  but  not  in  the  way 
that  the  church  would  wish  her  to  be.  She  could  at  last 


WALDFRIED.  \  fi 

understand  that  the  best  consolation  and  the  most  elevating 
reflection,  in  time  of  sorrow,  is  to  consider  individual  suffer- 
ing a  part  of  a  great  whole,  and  as  a  phase  of  the  soul-ex- 
perience of  advancing  humanity. 

She  regretted  that  Bertha  had  not  been  with  us.  She  felt 
sure,  also,  that  her  husband  would  have  been  a  delighted 
listener.  He  had  always  felt  attracted  to  Richard,  although 
he  had  never  become  intimate  with  him. 

She  hurried  home  in  order,  as  I  fancy,  to  write  out  for  her 
husband's  benefit  her  impressions  of  what  she  had  just  heard. 

Johanna  left  us  that  very  day.  She  said  that  she  now  felt 
as  a  stranger  in  our  home,  and  consoled  herself  with  the 
thought  that  she  could  feel  at  home  in  the  house  of  a  Father 
whom  we,  alas !  did  not  know. 

We  were  neither  anxious  nor  able  to  prevent  her  depart- 
ure. And  why  should  I  not  confess  it? — we  felt  more  at 
our  ease  without  her. 


CHAPTER  VII. 

AS  far  as  she  could,  Bertha  led  a  self-contained  and  se- 
cluded life.  She  frankly  admitted  that  she  was  not  in 
the  mood  to  worry  about  her  lost  brother ;  her  heart  v  as 
filled  with  thoughts  of  her  husband,  the  father  of  her  chil- 
dren. 

When  haymaking  began  on  the  mountain  meadows, 
Bertha  would  go  out  and  assist  in  scattering  the  newly  mown 
grass.  She  hoped  that  physical  exercise  would  enable  her 
again  to  enjoy  the  refreshing  sleep  of  her  childhood,  and 
was  quite  happy  when,  in  the  morning,  she  found  herself  able 
to  tell  us  that  she  had  passed  a  night  in  dreamless  sleep. 

Annette  suffered  greatly  from  the  heat.  Bertha,  however, 
said  that  it  was  best  to  expose  one's  self  to  the  sun,  because 
the  heat  would  then  be  less  oppressive.  She  was  quite  de- 
lighted to  see  how  the  sun  browned  her  own  children. 

Annette  again  introduced  the  subject  of  the  parable 
of  the  Prodigal  Son,  when  Richard,  with  an  ironical  smile, 
replied,  "  I  am  glad  to  see  that  you  can  dwell  on  a  subject 
and  again  return  to  it ;  and  I  shall  only  add,  that  in  the  Old 
Testament  the  history  of  a  nation  is  conceived  in  a  popular 
manner,  while  the  New  Testament  is  a  history  in  which  one 
exalted  and  idealized  man  serves  as  the  sole  and  central 
figure.  The  real  life  of  the  family,  the  relations  of  parents 
and  kindred,  is  not  emphasized  in  the  latter.  Life,  there,  is 
isolated,  and  looks  only  towards  heaven. 

"  In  the  Old  Testament,  the  life  of  the  family  is  in  constant 
action,  and  superfluous  figures  which  serve  no  moral  in 
themselves  are  also  introduced. 


WALDFRIED. 

"  To  express  myself  symbolically,  I  should  say  Moses  has 
a  brother  and  a  sister  who  are  also  important  figures.  Jesus, 
on  the  other  hand,  stands  alone  against  the  golden  back- 
ground, and  no  relationship  of  His  is  mentioned  except 
that  to  His  mother,  which  was  afterward  poetically  invested 
with  a  higher  significance." 

"  Accept  my  thanks  ;  I  believe  I  understand  you.  If  one 
were  able  always  to  regard  individual  suffering  as  merely 
part  of  the  world's  development,  one  would  be  saved  from 
all  pain,"  said  Annette. 

Richard's  look  was  one  of  suqmse,  almost  of  anger,  at 
these  words. 

When  we  were  together,  most  of  his  attentions  were 
for  the  daughter  of  the  kreis-director.  Her  calm  and  gen- 
tle manner  seemed  to  him  the  very  opposite  of  Annette's  ; 
and  it  may  have  been  his  desire  to  let  Annette  see  that  culti- 
vated womanhood  consists  of  something  more  than  inces- 
santly propounding  questions,  or  in  keeping  a  man  in  a 
constant  trot  to  prove  his  gallantry  by  providing  for  the  in- 
tellectual requirements  of  the  ladies. 

"  I  greatly  fear,"  said  Richard  to  my  wife,  "  that  Annette 
is  one  of  that  class  of  beings  with  whom  everything  resolves 
itself  into  talk,  and  of  whom  one  might  well  say  that  what  to 
us  is  a  church,  is  to  them  a  concert."  And  he  went  on  to 
complain  that,  in  the  strict  sense  of  the  word,  Annette  did 
not  have  a  nice  ear ;  that  where  she  thought  she  fully  under- 
stood one's  meaning,  she  usually  misconceived  it.  When 
he  had  finished,  my  wife  answered  with  a  quiet  smile  : 

"  Be  careful :  the  professor  is  again  showing  himself  in 
you.  It  seems  to  me  that  the  professor  finds  it^annoying  to 
have  listeners  who  are  not  all  attention." 

Richard  was  a  severe  judge  of  his  own  motives  and 
actions,  and  frankly  confessed  that  he  deserved  the  reproach. 


WALD FRIED. 

Nevertheless  ne  could  not  accustom  himself  to  Annette's 
presence. 

He  had  much  knowledge  of  men,  and  constantly  lived  in 
a  certain  equable  atmosphere  of  his  own  ;  and  the  impulsive, 
changeable  traits  of  Annette  were  therefore  repugnant  to 
him. 

She,  too,  felt  the  antagonism,  and  one  day  said  to  him, 
quite  roguishly,  "The  forester  is  the  type  of  many  men. 
I  had  always  thought  that  he  found  it  refreshing  to  breathe 
the  pure  air  of  the  woods ;  but  I  find  that  he  is  constantly 
smoking  his  vile  tobacco." 

The  petty  war  between  Richard  and  Annette  enabled  us, 
for  many  an  hour,  to  forget  the  greater  war  that  was  raging 
out  of  doors.  Annette  was  quite  anxious  in  her  care  for 
my  wife,  and  could  never  fully  gratify  her  desire  to  be  with 
her  always. 

Although  Richard  attempted  to  conceal  it,  it  was  quite 
evident  that  he  had  a  decided  aversion  to  Annette. 

He  would  sometimes  spend  whole  days  with  Rautenkron 
the  forester,  and  was  more  frequent  in  his  visits  to  Baron 
Arven  than  he  had  formerly  been. 

But  in  the  evenings,  when  we  were  all  together,  Annette 
seemed  to  possess  the  .art  of  drawing  him  out  in  spite  of 
himself. 

And  thus  we  led  a  simple  and  yet  intellectual  life,  while, 
without  doors,  armies  speaking  the  same  language  were 
arrayed  against  each  other  with  deadly  intent. 


CHAPTER  VIII. 

"TRENCHER  is  here  again;  he  could  not  find  him," 
JL  said  Martella  one  morning.  Her  dog  had  returned 
during  the  night. 

At  noon,  Joseph  returned  from  Alsace.  He  had  not  suc- 
ceeded in  finding  Ernst,  who  had  remained  at  my  sister's 
house  but  one  day,  and  had  seemed  excited  and  troubled 
while  there. 

He  had  understood  that  Ernst  had  met  some  one  at  the 
railway  station,  as  if  by  appointment. 

Joseph,  who  was  always  so  cool  and  collected,  seemed 
remarkably  nervous  and  excited. 

I  thought  that  he  had  perhaps  seen  Ernst  after  all,  and 
was  not  telling  us  all  that  he  knew ;  but  he  assured  me,  in  a 
somewhat  confused  manner,  that  he  had  concealed  nothing. 
He  told  me  that  he  was  out  of 'sorts,  simply  because  of  the 
triumphant  and  malicious  airs  that  the  Alsatians  had  dis- 
played. Business  friends  of  his,  among  whom  there  was  a 
deputy  who  seemed  to  be  well  posted,  insisted  upon  it  as  a 
fact  that  the  Prussian  statesman  had  offered  the  French  Em- 
peror a  considerable  portion,  if  not  all,  of  the  left  bank  of 
the  Rhine,  on  condition  that  the  Emperor  would  not  pre- 
vent him  from  using  his  own  pleasure  towards  Germany,  if 
conquered. 

The  left  bank  of  the  Rhine  !  How  often  I,  too,  while  in 
Alsace  had  heard  it  said  that  France  must  take  possession 
of  this  left  bank,  as  a  matter  of  course  ;  for  the  Frenchmen 
thought  themselves  the  lords  of  creation,  with  whom  it  was 


WALDFRIED. 

only  necessary  to  express  a  wish  in  order  to  have  it 
gratified. 

Would  I  yet  live  to  see  the  ruin  of  my  Fatherland  ?  At 
that  very  moment,  Germans  were  battling  against  Germans, 
in  order  that  the  aims  of  France  might  be  served. 

I  asked  Joseph  and  Richard  whether  they  could  conceive 
of  such  a  thing  as  a  German  selling  and  betraying  his  Father- 
land. 

We  had  no  assurance  of  this,  and  thought  it  best  to  en- 
courage each  other's  faith  in  humanity. 

The  failure  of  Joseph's  mission  had  only  served  to  arouse 
my  own  deep  sorrow  anew. 

My  son  lost !  When  night  came,  I  could  not  make  up  my 
mind  to  retire.  For  a  long  while,  I  sat  gazing  at  the  starry 
heavens,  and  the  dark  forest-covered  mountains.  Where  is 
he  now  ?  Can  it  be  possible  that  he  is  not  thinking  of  us  ? 
He  is  in  danger,  and  may  work  his  own  ruin.  How  gladly 
would  I  fly  to  his  help,  if  I  only  knew  how  ! 

At  last  one  goes  to  his  couch,  thinking  :  "  To-morrow 
something  definite  must  be  done."  But  the  morning  comes, 
and  the  deed  is  left  undone.  Thou  hast  waited  this  long, 
and  shalt  wait  still  longer.  And  thus  the  days  pass  by,  while 
naught  is  accomplished.  When  I  lay  awake  at  nights,  think- 
ing of  my  son,  I  felt  as  if  with  him ;  and  when,  by  chance, 
other  thoughts  arose  in  my  mind,  the  one  great  grief  would 
thrust  them  aside.  It  seemed  as  if  my  soul  had  for  a  time 
left  the  body  and  had  now  returned  to  it  again. 

The  fear  ©f  sleeplessness  is  almost  worse  than  the  reality ; 
but  one  falls  asleep  at  last  without  knowing  how,  and  so  it 
shall  some  day  be  with  our  final  sleep. 

And,  often,  when  the  tired  body  had  fallen  asleep,  the 
troubled  soul  would  awaken  it  again. 

At   these  moments  I  would  say  to  myself,    "  Life   is  a 


IVALDFR2ED.  177 

solemn  charge."  It  went  hard  with  me  to  renounce  perfect 
happiness. 

One  morning,  when  I  was  just  about  to  go  out  into  the 
fields,  Martella  came  running  towards  me.  She  was  almost 
out  of  breath,  and  told  me  that  the  captain's  wife  was  over 
in  the  garden  of  the  school-master's  wife,  and  had  fainted. 
She  had  received  a  letter  with  bad  news.  Her  husband  had 
been  shot  in  the  forehead,  and  was  dead. 

My  wife  hurried  on  ahead  of  me,  and  stepped  as  quickly 
as  in  the  days  of  her  youth. 

When  J  reached  the  garden  gate,  Annette  was  already 
sitting  on  a  bench.  She  had  her  arms  around  Gustava's 
neck,  and  had  buried  her  face  in  my  wife's  bosom. 

She  raised  her  head  and  said,  "  The  flowers  still  bloom." 
Then  she  covered  her  face  with  her  hands,  and  sobbed 
bitterly. 

My  wife  placed  her  hand  on  Annette's  head,  and  said, 
"  Weep  on.  You  have  a  right  to  lament.  Let  them  not 
dare  come  and  say,  '  Conquer  your  pain,  for  hundreds  suffer 
just  as  you  do.'  Were  there  thousands  to  suffer  this  same 
grief,  every  one  must  suffer  it  for  himself,  and  through  life  carry 
a  wounded  heart.  You  are  very,  very  unhappy.  You  were 
life  and  joy  itself:  you  must  now  know  what  it  is  to  be  sad. 
It  is  a  hard  lesson,  and  although  I  bear  my  burden,  that 
will  not  lighten  yours.  That  you  must  bear  for  yourself,  as 
none  besides  you  can." 

Annette  raised  her  head,  and  when  she  saw  me,  extended 
her  hand,  saying  at  the  same  time : 

"  You  knew  him  well ;  but  no  one  knew  him  as  I  did. 
He  was  a  hero,  with  a  soul  as  pure  as  a  child's.  Can  it  be  ? 
Can  it  be  possible  that  he  lives  no  more  ?  Can  a  mere  bul- 
let put  in  end  to  so  much  beauty,  so  much  happiness? 
Surely  it  cannot  be  !  Why  should  it  have  been  he  ?  Why 
12 


178 


WALDFRIED. 


should  this  stroke  fall  on  me  ?  Forgive  me,  Bertha,  you 
were  stronger  and  more  determined  than  I.  And  how  your 
husband  will  mourn  him !  Victor,  do  you  know  what  has 
happened  ?  Uncle  Hugo  is  dead  !  And  in  the  very  hour 
of  his  death  I  may  have  been  laughing.  Alas,  alas  !  For- 
give me  for  making  you  all  so  sad.  I  cannot  help  my- 
self." 

We  had  not  yet  left  the  garden,  when  the  kreis-director 
entered.  He  was  accompanied  by  a  tall  gentleman  who  was 
a  stranger  to  us. 

"  Max,  you  here  ! "  exclaimed  Annette.  "  While  I  was 
happy,  you  did  not  come  to  me,  but  now  you  do  come. 
How  kind  !  " 

She  threw  her  arms  around  his  neck,  and  I  then  learned 
that  he  was  her  brother. 

We  retired,  leaving  them  together. 

I  had  known  that  Annette  was  an  orphan.  I  now  learned 
that  her  brother,  who  was  a  lawyer  of  renown,  had  given  up 
all  intercourse  with  his  sister,  because  of  her  having  em- 
braced Christianity.  He  had  wished  her  to  remain  true  to 
the  faith  of  her  ancestors,  and  to  contract  only  a  civil  mar- 
riage. For  her  husband's  sake,  however,  she  had  embraced 
the  Catholic  religion.  This  was  the  first  intimation  I  had 
of  her  being  a  Catholic. 

A  sudden  shower  forced  us  to  withdraw  into  the  house. 

It  is  depressing  to  think  that  while  we  were  absorbed  by 
the  deepest  despair,  a  petty  annoyance  could  cause  us  to  flee. 
We  entered  the  school-room. 

"  There  it  is  !  "  exclaimed  Annette,  pointing  to  the  black- 
board ;  "  there  it  stands  !  " 

On  the  blackboard  were  the  words,  "  War,  Victory,  Fa- 
therland, Germany,"  as  a  writing-copy  for  the  children. 

"Children  are  taught  to  write  it,"  said  Annette,    "but 


WALDFRIED.  !  7  g 

where  is  it  ?  All  life  is  a  blackboard,  and  on  it  are  written 
the  words,  '  Death,  Grief,  Tears:  " 

The  old  spinner  entered.  She  walked  up  to  Annette,  took 
her  by  the  hand,  and  uttered  a  few  words  which  none  of  us 
could  understand. 

Annette  called  upon  us  all  to  bear  witness,  that  from  that 
very  hour  she  would  give  the  spinner  a  considerable 
annuity  in  case  her  son  should  lose  his  life  ;  but  that, 
even  if  he  were  to  return  in  safety,  she  would  nevertheless 
make  her  a  yearly  allowance. 

Her  brother  objected  that  at  such  a  time  it  were  wrong  to 
make  a  vow.  She  could,  from  year  to  year,  give  the  old 
woman  as  much  as  she  thought  proper ;  but  that  she  ought 
not,  at  this  moment,  to  make  a  promise  which  would  be  ir- 
revocable, and  for  life. 

We  all  looked  at  him  with  surprise! 

He  added  that  he,  too.  would  be  happy  to  contribute  a 
generous  sum  to  the  annuity. 

Annette  returned  to  her  dwelling,  in  order  to  prepare  for 
her  departure.  Her  orders  were,  that  her  rooms  should  re- 
main in  the  same  condition  as  she  left  them,  as  it  was  her 
intention  to  return. 

"  Your  master  is  dead,"  she  said  to  the  brown  spaniel ; 
"your  eye  tells  me  that  you  understand  my  words.  You 
must  remain  here  ;  I  shall  return  again.  He  loved  you,  too  ; 
but  rest  quiet :  we  can  neither  of  us  die  yet.  You  arc  well 
off — you  can  neither  wish  for  death  for  yourself,  nor  seek 
it :  you  cannot  think  of  these  things.  Yes,  you  are  well 
off." 

I  can  hardly  find  room  to  mention  all  the  strange  images 
that  were  called  up  by  Annette's  words.  Her  richly  endowed 
and  many-sided  mind  was  in  unwonted  commotion. 

The  shower  had  passed  away ;  the  grass  and  the  trees 


WALDFRIED. 

v/ere  radiant  with  the  sunlight,  and  the  lines  of  the  opposite 
hills  were  clear  and  distinct. 

Annette  stood  at  her  window  gazing  into  the  distance, 
while  she  uttered  the  words  : 

"  While  the  earth  decks  itself  with  verdure  and  brings  forth 
new  life,  it  receives  the  dead.  Let  no  one  dare  come  to 
me  again  and  say  that  he  understands  the  world  and  life  ! 

"  Where  is  the  professor  ?  " 

My  wife  was  the  only  one  who  could  quiet  Annette,  and 
she  said,  "  If  I  could  only  go  with  you  !  " 

"You  will  be  with  me  in  spirit,  I  am  sure,"  replied  An- 
nette. 

She  extended  her  hand  to  my  wife,  saying,  "  I  can  assure 
you  of  this :  I  will  so  conduct  myself,  that  you  could  at  any 
moment  say  to  me,  *  This  is  right.' — I  have  been  wild  and 
wayward  ;  I  am  so  no  longer ;  hereafter,  I  will  be  strong  and 
gentle." 

The  carriage  drove  up  and  we  accompanied  Annette  down 
the  hill  as  far  as  the  saw-mill. 

There  was  a  rainbow  over  our  heads ;  it  reached  from 
our  mountains  to  the  Vosges. 

Annette  held  a  handkerchief  to  her  eyes.  My  wife  and 
Bertha  were  walking  on  either  side  of  her. 

The  only  time  I  heard  her  speak  was  when  she  said  to 
Bertha  : 

"  Your  husband  has  lost  his  best  comrade.  The  Major 
will  live  ;  there  shall  yet  be  some  happy  ones  on  earth.  I 
shall  write  you  from  the  camp." 

Rothfuss  was  ploughing  the  potato  field.  He  was  walking 
with  his  back  towards  us. 

Annette  called  to  him.  He  came  out  into  the  road  and 
inquired  what  was  the  matter. 

"  My  husband  is  dead.     I  am  going  to  bring  him  and 


WALDFRIED.  I  Si 

lay  him  in  the  earth  which  you  are  now  ploughing/'  said  An- 
nette in  a  firm  voice. 

Rothfuss  extended  his  hand  to  her.  He  seemed  unable  to 
utter  a  word,  and  was  excitedly  swinging  his  cap  about  with 
his  left  hand. 

At  last,  in  a  loud  voice,  and  stopping  after  every  word,  he 
exclaimed  : 

"  I  would — rather — not — be — King — or  Emperor — than 
have — that — rest — on  me." 

He  returned  to  the  field  and  continued  his  work. 

When  we  reached  the  valley,  Annette  said,  "  I  shall  not 
say  '  good  by ; '  I  shall  need  all  my  strength  for  the  other 
sad  affair." 

She  quickly  stepped  into  the  carriage ;  her  brother,  Ron- 
theim,  and  the  daughter  of  the  latter  following  her. 

The  carriage  rolled  away. 

On  our  way  back  to  the  house,  my  wife  was  several  times 
obliged  to  sit  down  by  the  roadside.  The  sad  events  of  this 
day  had  deeply  affected  her. 

We  were  seated  under  an  apple-tree,  when  my  wife,  taking 
me  by  the  hand,  said,  "Yes,  Henry,  how  full  of  blossoms 
that  tree  once  was  ;  but  May-bugs  and  caterpillars  and  frost 
and  hail  have  destroyed  it.  And  thus  it  is  with  him,  too." 

She  was  not  as  demonstrative  as  I  was ;  she  could  bear 
her  sorrow  silently ;  but  the  thought  of  Ernst  did  not  leave 
her  for  a  moment. 

When  we  got  back  to  the  house  she  fell  asleep  in  the  arm- 
chair, and  did  not  awaken  until  sunset,  when  Richard,  whom 
we  had  not  seen  all  day,  returned. 

He  admitted  that  he  had  heard  of  Annette's  bereavement, 
but  had  kept  out  in  the  woods  to  be  out  of  the  way,  as  he 
thought  there  were  enough  sympathizers  without  him, 
and  that  he  could  not  have  been  of  any  service. 


!32  WALDFRIED. 

My  wife  looked  at  him  with  surprise. 

Richard  told  us  that  during  the  rain-storm,  which  had 'been 
quite  heavy  in  the  woods,  he  had  been  with  Raiitenkron. 

The  gloomy  man  had  spoken  of  Ernst  with  great  interest, 
and  had  incidentally  inquired  in  regard  to  Martella.  He 
was  quite  enraged  that  he,  who  never  read  a  newspaper  and 
did  not  want  to  have  anything  to  do  with  the  world,  was 
obliged  to  know  of  this  war,  as  one  of  his  assistants  and  a 
forest  laborer  had  been  conscripted.  He  felt  quite  convinced, 
too,  that  Prussia  would  be  victorious. 

For  a  long  while  there  was  no  news  from  the  seat  of  war, 
except  reports  of  marching  and  countermarching. 

After  that,  there  came  a  letter  from  the  Major,  who  la- 
mented the  death  of  the  Captain,  and  wrote  in  terms  of  ad- 
miration of  the  noble  and  composed  bearing  of  Annette. 

Richard,  who,  during  Annette's  presence,  had,  as  far  as  pos- 
sible, affected  solitude,  was  now  again  with  us  almost  con 
stantly. 

He  spoke  quite  harshly  of  Annette,  and  said  that  she  was 
ahvays  expressing  a  desire  for  repose  and  a  quiet  life,  while 
at  the  same  time  she  was  constantly  disturbing  every  one. 
She  would  allow  no  one  to  live  in  his  own  thoughts ;  her 
only  desire  was,  that  the  thoughts  and  feelings  of  others 
should  be  the  reflection  of  her  evanescent  emotions. 

He  thought  it  likely,  however,  that  she  might  emerge  from 
the  refining  fire  of  a  great  grief,  purer  and  firmer  than  she 
had  ever  been. 

"  I  know  now,"  said  my  wife  to  me  one  evening,  "  why 
Richard  went  out  into  the  woods.  It  was  well  of  him." 

I  did  not  understand  it,  and  she,  in  order  to  tease  me,  re- 
fused to  explain.  She  seemed  quite  pleased  with  her  secref, 
and  I  was  only  too  happy  to  see  her  smile  once  again. 


CHAPTER  IX. 

"  'HT^HANK  God,  they  have  beaten  us !  "  were  the  words 
JL  with  which  Joseph  entered  our  house  the  next  morn- 
ing, carrying  an  extra  paper  in  his  hand.  In  those  words 
was  concentrated  the  whole  misery  of  those  days.  "If 
Prussia  would  only  march  into  the  South  German  palaces ! 
That  is  the  only  way  to  bring  about  a  proper  understand- 
ing." 

This  was  the  second  idea  that  Joseph  expressed. 

An  armistice  was  concluded.  Bertha  wished  to  return 
home  at  once.  A  letter  from  her  husband  was  received,  re- 
questing her  to  remain  at  our  house,  and  informing  her  that 
he  would  join  her  there  immediately  after  the  return  of  the 
troops. 

He  also  informed  us  that  he  had  received  a  letter  from 
the  widow  of  our  Austrian  cousin  ;  her  husband  had  lost  his 
life  at  Koniggratz. 

We  also  received  news  from  Annette.  In  a  few  short 
words  she  informed  us  of  her  wretched  journey  with  the 
corpse  of  him  who  had  been  all  her  joy,  and  had  been  sacri- 
ficed to  no  purpose. 

The  postscript  contained  special  greetings  for  Richard, 
both  from  her  and  from  his  friend,  a  medical  professor,  who 
had  introduced  himself  to  Annette  as  a  friend  of  ours,  and 
had  been  of  great  service  to  her. 

Sad  tidings  threw  the  village  into  excitement. 

Carl,  who  had  been  the  favorite  of  the  whole  village, 
had  fallen.  It  was  both  sad  and  gratifying  to  hear  how 
every  one  praised  him.  Even  the  taciturn  meadow  farniei 


i84 


WALDFRIED. 


stopped  me  on  my  way  to  the  spinner's  cottage,  and  said, 
"  He  was  a  steady  young  fellow." 

If  I  had  replied  by  asking  him  to  contribute  a  stated  sum 
for  the  support  of  the  destitute  widow,  he  would  have  looked 
at  me  as  if  I  were  crazy,  to  think  of  making  such  a  sugges- 
tion to  him.  According  to  his  views  of  life,  poor  people 
were  sent  into  the  world  to  starve,  and  the  rich  in  order 
that  they  might  eat  to  their  heart's  content  and  fill  their  iron 
cooking-pots  with  gold. 

The  meadow  farmer  was  accompanied  by  a  peasant- 
prince  from  the  valley  on  the  other  side  of  the  mountains, 
where  the  succession  falls  to  the  minor,  the  youngest  son 
inheriting  the  estate. 

It  was  said  that  the  only  daughter  of  the  meadow  farmer 
had  been  determined  on  as  the  wife  of  this  young  peasant. 
He  had  inherited  a  considerable  sum  in  securities,  and  now 
sought  a  wife.  Love  did  not  enter  into  the  question ;  all 
that  was  required  was  to  keep  up  the  name  and  the  honor 
of  the  peasant-court ;  and,  while  a  noble  life  cannot  result 
from  such  a  union,  it  generally  proves  a  respectable  and 
contented  marriage. 

I  remembered  that  there  had  been  a  rumor  in  the  village 
that  Marie,  the  daughter  of  the  meadow  farmer,  loved  Carl. 

When  I  drew  near  to  the  house  of  the  spinner,  I  saw 
Funk  coming  out,  Lerz  the  baker  following  him.  I  think 
Funk  must  have  seen  me ;  otherwise  there  could  have  been 
no  reason  for  his  remarking  to  his  companion  in  quite  a  loud 
voice,  "What  do  you  think  of  your  beggarly  Prussians  now  ? 
This  is  their  work — to  kill  the  son  of  a  poor  widow.  If  he 
had  been  a  prince,  they  would  have  gone  into  mourning,  and 
for  seven  weeks  would  have  eaten  out  of  black  bowls  and 
with  black  spoons  ! " 

It  went  hard  with  me  to  enter  the  widow's  cottage,  after 


WALDFRIED. 

hearing  those  words.  The  old  woman,  who  had  always 
been  so  quiet  and  contented,  and  who  had  never  left  her 
dwelling,  unless  it  was  to  go  earn  her  daily  bread,  was  now 
quite  urgent  in  her  demands.  She  asked  for  money,  so  that 
she  might  go  and  witness  the  burial  of  her  son,  and  know 
where  they  laid  his  body.  She  also  wanted  to  go  to  the 
Prince,  for  whom  her  son  had  lost  his  life.  She  knew  that 
she,  a  poor  woman,  had  a  better  right  to  a  good  pension 
than  the  Captain's  widow,  who  was  a  great  lady. 

When  my  wife  came,  the  old  woman  said,  "You  are 
better  off  than  I  am.  Your  son  still  lives,  but  mine  is 
dead.  They  told  me  that  you  once  said  your  son  was  more 
than  dead.  But,  tell  me,  what  does  it  mean  to  be  more 
than  dead  ?  Ah,  you  do  not  know.  The  Prussian  sought 
out  the  best  heart  of  them  all.  He  knew  what  he  was 
about.  Of  all  the  thousands  who  say  '  mother,'  there  was 
no  better  child  than  my  Carl.  Your  Ernst  is  also  a  good 
lad.  They  were  born  on  the  same  day.  Don't  you  remem- 
ber? My  husband  was  quite  tipsy  when  he  came  home 
that  evening.  He  was  gloriously  full,  and  so  jolly !  He 
must  have  known  that  he  was  soon  to  be  the  father  of  such 
a  splendid  boy. 

"  Oh,  my  poor  Carl !  You  may  hunt  the  land  through, 
but  you  will  never  find  so  handsome  a  lad  as  my  Carl.  He 
did  not  get  his  good  looks  from  me  ;  but  his  father  was  just 
as  good-looking  as  he — nay,  almost  more  so. 

"  Ah,  it  will  be  a  long  while  before  you  find  so  pretty  a 
fellow  as  Carl — one  who  will  sit  down  beside  his  mother  of 
a  Sunday  afternoon  and  tell  her  merry  jokes,  so  that  her 
heart  may  be  gladdened,  although  his  own  be  sad. 

"  Yes,  go  and  seek  another  such  as  he  ! 

"Don't  go  away,  Waldfried !  There  is  no  one  left  with 
whom  I  can  talk.  Or  send  Martella  to  me — she  will  do." 


WALDFRIED. 

On  our  way  home,  my  wife  gently  said,  "  His  regiment 
was  not  once  in  battle." 

This  was  the  first  intimation  I  had  received  of  her  careful 
reading  of  the  newspapers.  Ernst's  regiment  had  not  fired 
a  single  shot,  and  all  our  suffering  had  been  to  no  purpose. 

We  sent  Martella  over  to  the  spinner's  cottage,  where  she 
remained  all  night. 

On  the  following  morning,  Martella  returned.  She  was 
quite  joyful,  and  maintained  that  Ernst  had  been  saved  and 
would  soon  return  to  us. 

She  had  arranged  everything  with  the  old  spinner.  The 
two  of  them  would  go  to  the  Prince,  and  the  spinner  would 
say  to  him,  "  My  son  is  dead !  but  give  me  the  one  who  was 
born  on  the  same  day,  and  wipe  out  all  that  stands  against 
him  ! "  Or  else  the  spinner  would  say,  "  My  tears  shall 
wash  away  all  the  charges  that  stand  written  against  him  on 
the  slate." 

It  went  hard  to  make  Martella  understand  that  this  plan 
was  nothing  more  than  an  idle  dream. 

The  battle  was  over,  and  peace  had  been  concluded. 

Although  Austria  was  separated  from  Germany,  there  was, 
as  yet,  no  real  Germany.  While  the  high  contracting  par- 
ties were  framing  the  chief  clauses  of  their  treaty,  the 
Frenchman  who  was  looking  over  their  shoulders  took  the 
pen  in  his  own  hand  and  drew  a  black  mark  across  the 
page,  and  called  it  "  the  line  of  the  Main." 

The  Major  came  home,  and  the  joy  of  Bertha  and  her 
children  knew  no  bounds.  The  Major,  however,  seemed 
unable  to  shake  off  a  deep  fit  of  melancholy. 

He  was  a  strict  disciplinarian.  He  never  allowed  himself 
to  say  aught  against  his  superiors  or  their  orders;  but  now, 
he  could  not  keep  down  his  indignation  at  the  manner  in 
which  the  war  had  been  conducted.  When  a  nation  really 


WALDFRIED. 


187 


goes  to  war  it  should  be  in  greater  earnest  about  its 
work. 

There  was  much  distrust,  both  as  to  the  courage  and  the 
loyalty  and  firmness  of  the  leaders.  While  the  Major's  feel- 
ings as  a  soldier  had  been  outraged,  there  were  many  other 
thoughts  which  suggested  themselves  to  him  as  a  lover  of 
his  country,  and  in  regard  to  which  he  maintained  silence. 

He  told  us  that  Annette  had  behaved  with  dignity  and 
composure  when  she  went  to  receive  the  body  of  her  hus- 
band. But  now  it  was  evident  that  she  had  attempted  too 
;mich ;  that  she  was  unwell,  and  would  be  obliged  until 
autumn  to  repair  to  the  sea-side,  where  her  mother-in-law 
would  be  with  her. 

When  the  Major  remarked  that  he  had  heard  it  said  that 
in  this  war  even  slight  wounds  might  prove  fatal,  because 
every  one  was  so  filled  with  mortification,  on  account  of  this 
unholy  strife,  that  the  very  idea  itself  would  serve  to  aggra- 
vate even  the  slightest  wound,  my  wife  exclaimed,  "  Yes,  it 
is  indeed  so.  There  are  wounds  which  are  made  fatal  by  the 
thoughts  of  those  who  receive  them." 

We  all  felt  that  she  was  thinking  of  Ernst,  and  remained 
silent. 

The  Major  did  not  mention  Ernst's  name,  nor  did  he  in- 
quire whether  we  had  heard  from  him. 

He  had  heard  of  the  death  of  Carl,  and  was  just  about  to 
pay  a  visit  to  his  mother,  when  Rothfuss  came  rushing  into 
the  room  in  breathless  haste,  and  told  us  that  Carl  was  down 
in  the  stable,  and  begged  that  we  would  go  to  his  mother 
and  gently  break  the  news  of  his  safe  return  to  her. 

We  had  Carl  come  up  to  us,  and  learned  from  him  that  he 
had  been  cut  off  from  his  companions  during  a  reconnois- 
sance,  and  taken  prisoner,  and  had  thus  by  mistake  been 
entered  in  the  list  of  the  killed. 


WALDFRIED. 

When  he  heard  this,  the  Major  inveighed  furiously  at  the 
want  of  system  that  obtained  everywhere. 

I  decided  that  I  would  go  to  his  mother,  and  that  Carl 
and  the  Major  should  follow  me  a  little  while  later. 

I  went  to  the  spinner's  cottage.  She  sat  at  her  spinning- 
wheel  ;  and  I  could  not  help  believing  myself  the  witness  of 
a  miracle,  for  as  soon  as  she  saw  me,  the  old  woman  called 
out,  "  Will  he  come  soon  ?  " 

She  then  told  me  that  she  had  awakened  during  the  night 
— she  was  quite  sure  it  was  not  a  dream — and  had  heard  the 
voice  of  her  son  saying  quite  distinctly,  "  Mother,  I  am  not 
dead — I  will  soon  be  with  you.  I  am  coining — I  am  com- 
ing ! "  And  she  had  heard  his  very  footsteps. 

"I  went  to  the  pastor's,"  she  said,  taking  off  one  spindle 
and  putting  on  a  new  one  ;  "  the  pastor  had  given  orders  to 
have  the  church-bell  tolled  on  account  of  Carl's  death ;  but 
I  will  not  allow  it — my  Carl  is  alive,  and  I  do  not  want  to 
hear  the  bells  tolling  for  his  death." 

I  told  her  that  in  time  of  war  there  was  necessarily  much 
confusion,  and  that  I,  too,  believed  that  her  son  was  still 
alive,  and  would  return  again.  I  was  just  about  to  say  that 
I  had  already  seen  Carl,  when  he  stepped  out  from  behind 
the  wood-pile,  and  called  out,  "  Mother !  " 

The  spinner  remained  seated,  but  threw  her  spindle  to  the 
far  end  of  the  room. 

Carl  fell  on  his  knees  before  her  and  wept. 

"  You  need  not  weep — I  have  done  enough  of  it  myself, 
already,"  said  she.  "But  I  knew  it — you  are  a  good  child, 
and  you  would  not  be  so  cruel  as  to  die  before  me.  Get  up 
and  pick  up  my  spindle.  Have  you  eaten  anything,  Carl  ? 
You  must  be  hungry." 

When  Carl  told  her  that  he  did  not  wish  for  anything,  she 
replied,  "  Indeed,  I  have  nothing  but  cold  boiled  potatoes. 


WALDFRIED.  189 

Now,  do  tell  me,  how  did  it  seem  when  you  were  dead  ? 
You  surely  thought  of  me  at  the  last  moment  ?  Tell  me, 
did  you  not  last  night  at  three  o'clock,  wherever  you 
were,  say  to  yourself,  '  Mother,  I  am  not  dead  :  I  shall  soon 
be  with  you — I  will  come  soon — I  will  come  soon  ?  " 

Carl  answered  that  he  had  really  uttered  those  very  words 
at  the  time  mentioned. 

"  That  is  right,"  said  the  old  woman. 

She  arose  from  her  seat,  took  her  son  by  the  hand,  and 
went  on  to  say,  "  Now,  come  up  into  the  village  with  me. 
Let  us  go  with  these  gentlemen.  Major,  1  thank  you  for 
the  honor  of  your  visit.  I  suppose  I  may  go  along  with 
you?" 

We  returned  homewards. 

It  was  already  known  through  the  whole  village,  that  the 
young  man  who  had  been  lost  and  so  sincerely  deplored  had 
returned.  Friends  poured  forth  from  every  doorway,  while 
from  the  windows  cries  of  "  Welcome  Carl !  "  were  heard. 

On  our  way  we  met  Marie,  carrying  a  bundle  of  clover  on 
her  head.  She  threw  her  bundle  away  and  hurried  towards 
Carl ;  but  when  she  came  up  to  him  she  suddenly  stopped, 
as  if  frightened. 

"  Good-day,  Marie.  I  am  glad  that  you,  too,  have  come 
to  bid  me  welcome,"  said  Carl. 

He  extended  both  his  hands  to  her,  and  she  took  hold  of 
them,  but  did  not  utter  a  word. 

We  walked  on,  and  when  I  turned  to  look  back,  I  saw 
Marie  sitting  on  the  bundle  of  clover,  with  her  face  buried 
in  her  hands. 

Rothfuss  was  the  j  oiliest  in  the  party. 

"  Now  one  can  see  how  untruthful  the  world  is,"  he  ex- 
claimed. "  Did  not  every  one  say  how  much  he  would  give 
if  only  Carl  were  alive  !  He  is  here,  now,  and  is  alive 


190 


WALDFRIED. 


again,  and  what  do  they  give  ?  Nothing.  One  ought  not 
to  do  people  the  favor  to  die ;  anything  in  the  world  but 
death." 

We  reached  the  house.  Carl's  mother  walked  up  to  my 
wife  and  said,  "  Madame  Waldfried,  here  he  is — my  son 
Carl.  Just  as  he  has  come  back  to  all  that  is  good,  so  will 
Ernst  surely  return.  They  were  born  on  the  same  day — 
do  you  remember  ?  There  was  a  great  storm  at  the  time  ; 
and  the  nurse  came  directly  from  your  house  to  mine.  And 
at  that  very  moment  the  lightning  struck  the  tree  that 
stands  behind  my  house  and  tore  it  to  pieces  ;  and  then  the 
nurse  said,  *  This  boy  will  see  something  of  war.' 

"You  did  not  believe  in  it,  but  it  came  to  pass,  neverthe- 
less. Down  in  the  valley  there  is  a  spring,  and  a  mother's 
heart  is  like  a  spring,  for  it  flows  by  day  and  night.  Your 
Ernst — my  Ernst — will  return  again." 

No  one  dared  reply,  but  with  Ernst  everything  was  differ- 
ent. 

The  old  woman  now  begged  that  we  would  inform  "  the 
great  lady,"  as  she  always  called  Annette,  of  Carl's  return. 
The  Major  promised  to  do  so;  and  when  he  and  I  were 
alone  together,  he  mentioned  Ernst's  name  for  the  first  time, 
and  informed  me  that  the  commander  of  his  division  had,  in 
the  presence  of  the  entire  corps  of  officers,  expressed  his 
great  regret  that  his  brother-in-law  had  deserted. 

Ernst  had  brought  pain  and  disgrace  on  us  all ;  but  there 
was  still  another  trouble  in  store  for  us. 

A  letter  reached  us  from  Johanna,  in  which  she  informed 
us  in  short,  hard  sentences  that  her  son  Martin  had  died  of 
the  wound  he  had  received  ;  and  that  her  husband,  who  had 
been  an  invalid  for  many  months,  could  not  long  survive 
him.  I  told  the  Major  of  this,  but  kept  the  news  from  the 
rest  of  the  family. 


WALDFRIED. 

On  the  day  before  the  Major  left  us,  we  had  received  a 
letter  from  Ludwig  in  America.  He  was  delighted  to  know 
that  the  Diet  had  been  dissolved,  and  thought  that  he  now 
saw  the  dawning  of  a  great  era  for  our  Fatherland.  The 
Americans  already  spoke  with  great  respect  of  Germany,  and 
of  the  power  of  Prussia  and  its  leaders. 

There  was  a  bitter  tone  in  the  remarks  of  the  Major  when 
he  said,  "  Ah,  yes ;  thus  things  seem  to  those  who  are  far 
away,  and  get  all  their  information  from  newspaper  reports. 
If  I  only  knew  how  I  could  turn  my  talents  to  use  in  the 
New  World,  I  would  ask  for  my  discharge  and  emigrate  to 
America." 

This  man,  who  had  never  known  anything  of  discord  or 
dissension,  was  now,  like  many  others,  torn  by  conflicting 
doubts. 

The  children  had  left ;  the  house  was  quiet  again,  and 
winter  approached. 

Martella  seemed  filled  with  new  life,  and  was  glad  that  she 
could  be  alone  with  my  wife  again.  When  Annette  wrote 
to  us  that  she  would  spend  the  whole  or  a  part  of  the  winter 
in  the  village,  Martella  said,  "  That  is  well,  too :  she  is  so 
entertaining  to  mother." 


CHAPTER    X. 

THE  Diet  was  again  convoked ;  and  I  can  hardly  de- 
scribe how  hard  I  found  it  to  leave  my  home  and  re- 
sume the  disagreeable  and  exhausting  occupations  that  now 
devolved  on  me. 

In  company  with  Joseph,  I  drove  into  town,  on  my  way 
to  the  capital,  when  Annette  called  to  me  from  the  ware- 
house of  Edward  Levi.  Her  mourning  attire  invested  her 
with  an  air  of  majestic  gloom  ;  but  her  brilliant  glance  and 
her  clear  complexion  prevented  her  black  habit  from  looking 
too  sombre.  She  must  have  noticed  that  I  was  pleased  with 
this,  for  she  said,  "  I  am  trying  to  recover  my  health,  and 
avail  myself  of  the  two  greatest  remedies;  I  have  just  left 
the  ocean,  and  shall  now  go  into  the  woods.  My  mother-in- 
law  has  gone  to  Paris  to  join  her  daughter,  who  is  the  wife 
of  our  minister.  She  has  an  idea  that  one  cannot  exist,  save 
in  Paris.  I  shall  come  and  see  you  ;  you  and  your  wife  can 
do  me  much  good,  and  I  may  perhaps  be  of  some  use  to 
you.  I  have  never  learned  how  to  lead  a  life  of  repose.  I 
shall  now  learn  it;  in  your  house  I  shall  find  the  best 
school,  and  your  wife  will  have  patience  with  a  sad,  yet  way- 
ward pupil." 

She  bought  an  ingeniously  constructed  stove  with  all  sorts 
of  cooking  utensils  belonging  to  it,  and  presented  it  to  Carl's 
mother.  Besides  this,  she  had  bought  all  sorts  of  new  furni- 
ture for  herself,  as  she  intended  to  spend  the  winter  at  the 
village.  She  was  so  glad  to  see  Rothfuss  again  that  she  left 
her  carriage  and  got  into  ours,  so  that  he  might  tell  her  of 
all  that  had  happened  during  her  absence.  Her  driver  had 


WALDI'Rrr.D. 


193 


been  instructed  to  take  all  her  new  purchases  up  to  Joseph's 
house  and  deliver  them  to  her  maid. 

I  went  on  towards  the  capital,  and  Annette  towaids  the 
village. 

On  the  way,  Joseph  told  me  that  he  had  done  very  well 
by  the  war.  The  South  Germans,  he  told  me.  had  been 
such  violent  partisans  of  Austria  because  the  greater  portion 
of  the  proprietors  in  the  neighborhood  had  invested  their 
money  in  Austrian  securities. 

Annette's  brother  had,  however,  in  good  season,  called  his 
attention  to  the  fact  that  a  great  change  was  taking  place  in 
financial  affairs.  America  had  already  successfully  passed 
through  a  great  war,  and  the  current  of  capital  was  now 
tending  in  the  direction  of  the  United  States,  where  its 
investment  was  both  safe  and  profitable. 

Joseph's  object  in  visiting  the  city  was  to  dispose  of  his 
American  bonds,  which  were  then  commanding  a  very  high 
price. 

It  has  always  been,  and  will  ever  remain,  a  marvel  to  me 
how  Joseph,  with  all  his  real  interest  in  public  life,  could  at 
the  same  time  manage  to  reap  a  profit  from  the  movements 
of  capital. 

I  had  the  good  fortune  to  travel  in  company  with  Baron 
Arven,  who  was  a  member  of  the  Upper  Chamber,  and  was 
also  on  his  way  to  the  capital.  He  seemed  greatly  depressed, 
and  admitted  that  the  realization  of  hopes  one  could  not  help 
entertaining  sometimes  produced  new  and  unforeseen  griefs. 

Thus  it  had  been,  he  said,  with  the  separation  of  Austria 
from  the  rest  of  Germany.  It  had  long  been  recognized  as 
necessary  to  the  proper  development  of  our  own  political 
life,  and  as  an  advantage  to  Austria ;  and  yet,  when  it  was 
brought  about,  it  seemed  more  like  a  death  that  one  had  felt 
it  his  duty  to  wish  for. 
13 


WALDFRIED. 

From  many  hints  that  he  threw  out,  I  could  not  but  feel 
assured  that  the  painful  political  dissensions  had  been  deeply 
felt  by  the  Arvens,  who  were  connected  with  the  empire 
through  so  many  family  ties. 

The  Baron  invited  me  to  take  up  my  quarters,  while  in  the 
capital,  in  his  mansion,  as  his  wife  did  not  intend  going  there 
during  that  winter.  I  declined  with  thanks,  as  I  had 
promised  Annette  to  make  use  of  the  vacant  dwelling  that 
belonged  to  her. 


CHAPTER  XI. 

THE  deputies  were  all  in  a  state  of  great  exc.tement. 
There  is  no  greater  test  of  accord  among  a  body  of 
men  than  a  sudden  calamity.  Just  as,  with  an  individual,  a 
lazy  resignation  will,  in  times  of  doubt  and  indecision^  alter- 
nate with  vehement  energy,  and  self-distrust  succeed  over- 
confidence,  so  did  it  happen  with  this  large  assembly.  All 
felt  that  a  bold  operation  was  necessary,  but  who  was  to  be 
the  surgeon,  and  whence  was  he  to  come.  It  was  necessary 
to  wait  for  the  hour  of  danger,  and  even  then  there  was 
great  reason  to  fear  that  when  the  treatment  had  been 
decided  on,  our  cousin  on  the  other  side  of  the  Rhine,  who 
had  been  praised  as  the  great  saviour,  might  interpose  his 
objections. 

In  a  secret  session,  we  were  informed  of  the  stipulations 
that  had  been  determined  on  by  the  North  German  Confed- 
eration in  regard  to  a  union  of  German  forces,  in  case  of 
coming  danger.  We  were  sworn  to  secrecy,  for  all  were 
afraid  of  our  neighbor  in  the  west. 

My  son-in-law,  the  Major,  left  on  a  long  furlough.  I  have 
never  yet  been  able  to  discover  whether  he  passed  his  time 
in  Paris  or  in  Berlin. 

The  work  and  the  angry  debates  in  Parliament  taxed  our 
patience  and  endurance  to  the  utmost. 

When  I  returned  to  my  home,  I  was  frightened  by  my 
wife's  appearance ;  her  face  showed  the  traces  of  great  suf- 
fering. Although  1  took  all  pains  to  prevent  her  from  see- 
ing that  I  noticed  it,  she  discovered  my  concern,  and  assured 


196 


WALDFRIED. 


me  that  she  was  feeling  quite  well,  but  was  sometimes  weak  ; 
and  that  all  would  be  right  again  in  the  summer,  when  she 
would  accompany  Annette  to  the  springs.  She  was  so 
active  and  cheerful  that  I  silenced  my  fears.  She  had 
already  learned  of  the  death  of  our  grandson  Martin,  and 
spoke  of  it  with  calmness. 

She  informed  me  of  Martella's  kind  and  considerate  be 
havior.  Rothfuss  had  been  sick  again,  and  even  now  wa? 
only  able,  with  great  exertion,  to  drag  himself  about  the  house. 
Martella  took  charge  of  all  his  duties,  and,  what  with  this 
and  her  instructions  from  mother  and  Annette,  was  kept 
quite  busy ;  but  she  was  never  so  happy  and  cheerful  as 
when  full  of  work. 

My  wife  took  great  pleasure  in  explaining  to  me  what 
strange  counterparts  Annette  and  Martella  were. 

Annette  was  endeavoring  to  free  herself  from  the  effects  of 
overwrought  culture  and  to  get  back  to  simplicity.  Martella, 
who  had  become  conscious  of  her  own  simplicity,  was  vexed 
thereat,  and  with  iron  industry  sought  to  acquire  the  rudi- 
ments of  an  education.  Annette  had  always  lived  out  of 
herself;  Martella  had  always  lived  within  herself.  Annette 
had  always  tried  to  subject  everything  to  critical  analysis : 
Martella  was  merely  artless  impressibility. 

It  was  certainly  a  strange  pair  that  my  wife  was  teaching 
to  keep  step  with  each  other. 

With  great  self-control  Annette  had  accustomed  herself  to 
the  quiet  winter  life  of  the  village.  She  often  said  that  she 
would  leave  in  a  few  days.  She  seemed  determined  not  to 
commit  herself  by  any  promise,  in  order  that  she  might 
from  day  to  day  make  new  resolutions.  When  I  told  her 
that  she  was  thus  making  both  herself  and  us  uncomfortable, 
she  promised  to  remain  until  I  should  advise  her  to  leave. 
She  admitted  that  it  was  pleasant  to  her  to  be  guided  by 


WALDFRIED. 


197 


another's  will.  She  spun  assiduously,  and,  like  a  diligent 
child,  showed  me  the  result  of  her  labor. 

The  old  spinner  maintained  that  Annette  was  learning  all 
the  secrets  of  her  art.  In  spite  of  this,  she  was  at  times 
unable  to  control  her'  restless  spirits.  She  had  the  snow 
cleared  away  from  the  pond,  and  went  skating  on  the  ice, 
while  half  of  the  village  stood  around  looking  at  her.  My 
sons  had  sometimes  skated  on  this  pond ;  but  it  was  quite  a 
different  sight  to  see  the  tall,  handsome  lady,  with  the  black 
feather  in  her  hat  and  the  closely  fitting  pelisse  trimmed  with 
fur.  She  ordered  a  pair  of  skates  for  Martella,  but  could 
never  induce  the  child  to  try  them. 

Annette  left  us  occasionally  in  order  to  spend  a  few  days 
with  Baroness  Arven.  On  her  return  it  would  always  seem 
as  if  a  wondrous  change  had  come  over  her. 

One  day  she  came  back  in  great  excitement  and  ex- 
claimed : 

"  Oh,  if  I  could  only  have  faith  !  I  think  I  shall  have  to 
administer  chloroform  to  my  soul." 

We  could  make  no  reply  to  this,  and  she  soon  again 
adapted  herself  to  the  quiet  tenor  of  our  life. 

I  was  obliged  to  introduce  a  change  that  gave  me  almost 
as  much  trouble  as  my  opponents  in  the  House  of  Delegates 
had  done.  It  was  necessary  to  engage  some  one  to  re- 
place or  assist  Rothfuss.  I  could  do  nothing  without  his 
consent ;  several  whom  I  had  proposed  he  had  rejected, 
and  when  I  at  last  obtained  Joseph's  consent  to  engage 
Carl,  Rothfuss  was  scarcely  pleased,  although  he  interposed 
no  objections. 

Rothfuss  always  insisted  that  Carl,  while  a  soldier,  had 
behaved  in  the  same  way  as  the  girl  who  said,  "  Catch  me : 
I'll  hold  still." 


198 


WALDFRIED. 


He  had  allowed  himself  to  be  caught.  If  Ernst  had  only 
been  smart  enough  to  do  likewise  ! 

For  the  sake  of  his  affection  for  Ernst,  Carl  submitted  to 
this  unjust  reproach.  He  was  indeed  a  brave  and  daring 
soldier,  and  felt  provoked  that  during  the  whole  war  there 
had  been  nothing  but  marching  hither  and  thither,  back  and 
forth,  without  once  meeting  the  foe. 

Rothfuss  and  Martella  had  much  to  say  to  each  othe^ 
about  Ernst,  to  whom  Martella  clung  with  unshaken  con 
fidence. 

Whenever  the  letter-carrier  came,  she  was  all  anxiou? 
expectation,  but  had  enough  self-control  to  conceal  her  feel 
ings  for  my  wife's  sake. 

My  wife  never  mentioned  Ernst's  name,  but  ever  since 
the  day  on  which  news  had  come  from  him,  her  sleep  had 
been  restless. 

When  I  returned  from  the  session  she  said  to  me,  "  I  am 
sure  you  have  no  news  that  you  are  concealing  from  me?" 

I  could  truthfully  assure  her  that  I  had  none,  and  after 
that  she  seemed  as  tranquil  as  if  she  had  been  speaking  o/ 
an  indifferent  subject.  And  yet  this  grief  preyed  on  her  in- 
cessantly. 

Annette  received  many  letters;  and,  as  she  could  have 
nothing  to  do  with  any  one  without  feeling  a  personal  in- 
terest in  him,  she  would  always  have  something  to  eat  and 
drink  ready  for  the  country  letter-carrier.  She  soon  knew 
all  about  the  toil  and  trouble  inseparable  from  his  work,  and 
also  inquired  in  regard  to  his  family  circumstances,  and 
assisted  him  as  well  as  she  could. 

She  ordered  a  sheep-skin  coat  for  him,  but  he  was  obliged 
to  decline  it,  because  in  his  walks  over  hill  and  dale  the 
weight  of  it  would  have  been  insupportable.  She  presented 
the  skin  to  a  poor  old  man;  and,  indeed,  tried  to  do 


WALDFRIED. 


199 


good  to  every  one  in  the  village  and  neigh  Do;  Jiood.  The 
oldest  house  in  the  neighborhood  is  yet  standing  down  in 
the  valley.  It  is  built  of  logs,  and  is  known  as  the  hut.  The 
smoke  fills  the  whole  house  and  forces  its  way  out  through 
the  crevices. 

Annette  found  this  smoky  atmosphere  particularly  grate- 
ful. She  often  went  down  to  the  hut,  and  the  people  would 
come  from  the  houses  near  by  and  listen  to  her  stories 
and  her  strange  jokes.  She  was  always  in  good  spirits  on 
her  return. 

Annette  had  once  encountered  Rautenkron.  She  at- 
tempted to  engage  him  in  conversation,  but  he  rudely  turned 
on  his  heel ;  and  when  she  was  telling  us  of  the  manhater, 
my  wife  made  a  remark  which  I  shall  never  forget : 

"  This  man  must  have  come  from  a  respected  and  well-to- 
do  family,  for  the  child  of  poor  parents  can  never  become  a 
misanthrope." 

Although  Annette  kindly  cared  for  the  poor  and  did  not 
permit  herself  to  be  repelled  by  any  rudeness  or  vulgarity 
on  their  part,  she  was  both  severe  and  void  of  pity  with  the 
faults  of  those  who  were  in  better  circumstances. 

Rimminger,  who  had  taken  his  discharge  and  had  mar- 
ried the  only  daughter  of  the  rich  owner  of  the  saw-mill, 
endeavored,  as  an  old  comrade  of  her  deceased  husband,  to 
bring  about  friendly  relations  between  Annette  and  his 
household.  She  kept  him  at  a  distance,  however,  and  ex- 
pressed herself  quite  forcibly  on  the  subject.  She  main- 
tained tha*  the  young  wife  always  looked  like  an  ennuied 
duchess,  and  was  constantly  trying  to  show  that  she  had  been 
educated  in  Paris. 

My  wife  said  that  she  disapproved  of  such  personalities. 
Annette  looked  at  her  \\ith  surprise  and  then  cast  her  eyes 
to  the  ground. 


200  WALD  FRIED. 

Our  days  were  full  of  work,  our  evenings  all  leisure  ;  and 
Annette  called  our  attention  to  something  that  had  never 
occurred  to  us.  She  found  it  very  strange  that  there  were 
no  playing-cards  in  our  house.  She  could  not  conceive 
how,  living  in  the  country,  we  could  have  overlooked  this 
pastime.  But  we  had  never  felt  the  want  of  it. 

Annette  had  a  rich,  musical  voice,  and  would  often  read 
aloud  to  us. 

Joseph  and  his  wife  would  come  and  listen,  while  Martella 
would  spin  so  softly  that  one  could  not  hear  her  wheel. 

Roth  fuss  would  sit  on  the  bench  near  the  stove,  and 
would  artfully  prevent  us  from  noticing  when  he  fell  asleep. 
When  the  reading  was  over,  he  was  always  wide-awake,  and 
would  insist  on  being  permitted  to  light  the  way  to  Joseph'* 
house  for  Annette. 

In  her  letters  to  Richard,  my  wife  described  our  pleasant 
genial  life ;  and  yet,  for  the  first  time,  Richard  did  not 
visit  us  once  during  the  whole  winter.  He  regretted  that 
he  had  an  extensive  work  in  hand  which  could  not  be  laid 
aside,  and  believed  that  he  was  about  to  finish  a  novel  anc3 
important  contribution  to  his  favorite  science. 

Annette  had  procured  various  fugitive  articles  of  Richard's 
that  had  been  published  in  scientific  journals,  and  during 
the  winter  had  read  all  of  his  books,  as  well  as  an  essay  of 
his  on  the  ''Origin  of  Language." 

She  once  said  :  "  I  do  not  consider  it  vanity  when  a  writer 
asks  me,  'Have  you  read  such  and  such  work  of  mine?' 
How  can  he  believe  that  one  faithfully  listens  to  his  words 
if  one  does  not  care  to  become  acquainted  with  the  best 
that  he  has  done — the  fruit  of  the  deepest  labors  of  his 
calmer  hours  ? 

"1  read  the  Professor's  writings,  and  find  much  in  them  that 
I  cannot  understand ;  but  he  wrote  them,  and  I  read  them 


WALD  FRIED.  2OI 

for  that  reason,  if  for  no  other.  And  then  again,  I  ofter 
chance  on  passages  which  are  quite  clear  to  me." 

My  wife  looked  at  me  with  a  significant  glance,  and  for 
the  first  time  it  occurred  to  me  that  it  might  be  possible 
that  Richard  was  in  love  with  Annette,  and  for  that  reason 
held  himself  aloof  from  her. 

It  was  towards  the  end  of  February.  There  was  grief 
among  our  nearest  friends.  Joseph's  father  died.  On  the 
day  that  he  was  buried,  Annette  received  a  letter  informing 
her  of  the  illness  of  her  mother-in-law  in  Paris. 

I,  of  course,  advised  her  to  depart  at  once  ;  and  thus  we 
were  again  left  to  ourselves.  We  all  felt  the  void  that  An- 
nette's departure  had  made,  but  soon  after  new  and  heavy 
troubles  fell  upon  us. 


CHAPTER  XII. 

DAYS  have  passed  in  which  I  did  not  once  take  my  pen 
in  hand  ;  I  could  not.  Must  I  indeed  write  of  this  ? 
What  forces  me  to  do  so  ? 

"  Above  all  things,  leave  nothing  unfinished  that  you  have 
once  begun,"  was  a  maxim  of  hers  ;  and  I  must  therefore  tell 
of  her  death.  When  the  fogs  of  autumn  and  the  frosts  of  win- 
ter scatter  the  foliage  of  the  trees,  a  branch  may  here  and 
there  be  seen  to  which  a  few  leaves  are  still  clinging.  Why 
should  those  alone  have  remained  ? 

My  memory  has  remained  true  to  me ;  but  of  that  grief 
which  seemed  to  divide  my  life  I  have  but  little  recollection. 
I  constantly  thought  of  the  saying  of  Carl's  mother,  "You  are 
a  good  child  :  you  cannot  be  so  cruel  as  to  die  before  me." 
From  the  garret,  I  looked  on  while  they  were  filling  up  her 
grave.  The  spade  shone  in  the  sunshine.  No  one  knew 
that  I  was  looking  on.  Shall  I  again  renew  the  feelings  that 
then  passed  through  my  soul?  Let  it  be  so. 

My  wife  was  ill.  She  uttered  no  complaint,  but  she  was 
feeble,  and  took  no  interest  in  what  was  going  on  about  her. 
During  the  day,  she  would  sleep  for  hours ;  and  at  night,  when 
she  awoke,  would  seem  surprised  by  the  surrounding  objects. 
During  her  sleeping  hours,  she  may  have  dwelt  in  quite  a 
different  region ;  but  she  never  alluded  to  it.  The  physician 
gave  her  but  little  medicine,  and  consoled  us  with  the  hope 
that  the  return  of  summer,  and  a  visit  to  a  watering-place, 
with  cheerful  companions,  would  help  her. 

Annette  soon  returned  to  us.  She  was  followed  by  my 
daughter  Johanna,  who  had,  in  the  meanwhile,  lost  her  hus- 


WALDFRIED. 


203 


band,  and  was  accompanied  by  her  daughter  Christiane.  She 
took  up  her  abode  with  us.  Her  only  son  was  living  as  a 
vicar  in  the  Unterland. 

Assisted  by  Balbina,  Johanna  took  charge  of  our  entire 
household.  When  my  wife  told  Martella  that  she  had  better 
submit  to  Johanna  in  all  things,  she  replied,  "  I  shall  gladly 
do  so ;  this  was  her  home  before  it  was  mine ;  and  I  shall 
thus  be  better  able  to  spend  all  of  my  time  with  mother." 
My  wife  indeed  preferred  to  have  this  stranger-child  about 
her ;  for  Johanna  could  not  help  treating  us  in  a  patronizing, 
pitying  manner,  because  we  were  not  as  pious  as  she  would 
have  us  be. 

Spring  returned,  and  my  wife's  health  seemed  to  improve. 
I  was  quite  happy  again.  At  that  time,  I  did  not  under- 
stand what  the  prudent  and  sensible  physician  meant,  when 
he  told  me  that  it  would  be  better  for  me  to  moderate  my 
joy. 

All  preparations  for  a  journey  to  the  springs  had  been  made. 
Bertha  had  promised  to  join  us  there,  and  bring  her  daughter 
with  her. 

Suddenly  the  physician  decided  that  it  would  be  better  if  my 
wife  would  remain  yet  awhile  among  the  surroundings  she  was 
accustomed  to.  He  was  a  young  and  kind-hearted  man,  con- 
stantly endeavoring  to  improve  himself  by  study  ;  full  of  love 
for  his  calling,  and  beloved  by  all  throughout  the  valley. 
His  visits  now  became  longer  than  they  had  been.  He 
would,  at  times,  acquaint  me  with  the  details  of  his  own  life, 
and  tell  me  that,  although  he  had  lost  his  wife  while  quite 
young,  he  endeavored  to  console  himself  by  the  remem- 
brance of  the  happy  days  he  had  passed  in  her  society.  I 
listened  to  his  words  without  giving  them  further  thought ; 
but  afterwards  it  became  clear  to  me  why  he  had  spoken  so  • 
impressively  on  the  subject. 


204  WALDFRIED. 

The  clays  passed  on.  I  gradually  accustomed  myself  to 
the  thought  of  my  wife's  illness  ;  but  when  out  in  the  fields,  I 
would  suddenly  become  alarmed,  and  imagine  that  something 
terrible  must  have  taken  place  at  the  house.  I  would  hurry 
home  and  find  that  all  was  going  on  as  usual. 

Back  of  my  house,  where  the  road  makes  a  descent,  th' 
young  teamsters  would  crack  their  whips  quite  loudly.  1 
observed  that  this  startled  Gustava,  and  she  overheard  me 
telling  Rothfuss  to  ask  the  young  fellows  not  to  make  so 
great  a  noise. 

"Do  not  interfere  with  them,"  said  she.  **A  man  who 
saunters  along  the  road  and  has  an  instrument  that  is  capable 
of  making  a  noise,  finds  pleasure  in  using  it.  Do  not  stop 
him." 

I  had  never,  before  that,  seen  Rothfuss  in  tears ;  but  when 
he  heard  those  words,  he  wept,  and  that  evening  he  said  to 
me,  "  The  angels  who  look  down  from  heaven  to  see  what 
we  human  beings  on  earth  are  doing,  must  be  just  as  she  is. 
She  is  no  longer  human — she  will  not  stay  with  us.  Par- 
don me  :  I  am  a  stupid  fellow  to  be  talking  this  way. 
You  know  I  am  a  simpleton,  and  do  not  understand  such 
things.  She  is  right,  though  ;  stupid  people  must  always 
make  a  noise,  be  it  with  their  mouths  or  with  their  whips." 

He  had,  however,  in  the  meanwhile  persuaded  the  youths 
not  to  crack  their  whips. 

My  wife  was  determined  that  Annette  and  Bertha  should 
go  to  the  springs  without  her ;  and,  as  she  would  listen  to  no 
refusal,  they  were  obliged  to  comply  with  her  desire. 

Several  weeks  had  gone  by,  when,  one  evening,  the  physi- 
cian told  me  that  she  could  last  but  a  few  days  longer.  I 
cannot  describe  my  feelings  at  that  moment. 

Joseph  telegraphed  for  the  children.     They  came. 

Strangely  enough,  my  wife  was  not   surprised  by  their 


WALDFRIED. 


2O5 


speedy  return.     She  conversed  with  them  as  if  they  had  not 
been  away  more  than  an  hour. 

The  physician  said  that  perhaps  there  might  still  be  a 
chance  to  save  my  wife  by  injecting  another's  blood  into  her 
veins,  and  that,  at  all  events,  the  attempt  should  be  made. 
Johanna  immediately  declared  her  readiness,  and  though 
her  offer  was  well  meant,  the  manner  in  which  it  was  made 
jarred  on  my  feelings.  She  said  that,  as  a  daughter,  she  had 
the  first  right ;  but,  if  they  did  not  want  her  blood  her  child 
must  be  willing. 

The  physician  declared  that  neither  her  blood  nor  that 
of  her  child  would  serve  the  purpose. 

The  choice  now  lay  between  Martella  and  Annette,  and 
when  the  physician  decided  in  favor  of  Martella,  her  face 
brightened,  and  she  exclaimed : 

"  Take  my  blood — every  drop  of  it — all  that  I  have." 

Some  of  Martella's  blood  was  injected  into  my  wife's  veins, 
and  during  the  night,  she  gained  in  strength.  But  it  was 
very  sad  to  find  that  she  had  almost  lost  her  hearing,  and 
that  the  only  medium  of  pleasure  yet  left  her  was  the  sense 
of  sight. 

Martha,  the  eldest  daughter  of  the  kreis-director,  had 
painted  a  picture  of  the  view  from  our  balcony,  looking  to- 
wards the  woods  down  by  the  stone  wall,  and  now  brought 
it  to  my  wife,  who  was  delighted  with  it.  The  only  figure 
was  a  hunter  coming  out  of  the  woods. 

Martha  told  us  that  she  could  not  draw  figures,  and  that 
Annette  had  been  kind  enough  to  sketch  the  huntsman  for 
her ;  and  she  kissed  my  wife's  hands  on  hearing  her  say, 
"  I  think  the  hunter  looks  like  our  grandson,  Julius." 

It  was  on  the  22d  of  July,  when  she  said,  "Have  a  little 
pine-tree  brought  for  me,  from  my  woods,  and  placed  here 
beside  my  bed." 


2o6  WALDFRIED. 

I  sent  Rothfuss  out  to  the  woods  ;  he  brought  a  little  pine, 
placed  it  in  a  flower-pot,  and  I  observed,  while  he  was  lean 
ing  over  it,  how  his  tears  dropped  upon  the  branches. 

He  turned  around  to  me  and  said,  "  I  hope  that  will  not 
harm  the  little  tree." 

When  I  placed  the  tree  at  her  bedside,  she  smiled  and 
moved  her  left  hand  among  its  branches,  but  the  hand  soon 
fell  down  by  her  side. 

What  wonderful  powers  of  memory  lie  in  a  mother's 
heart  !  She  would  tell  us  of  a  thousand  and  one  little  stones 
'and  sayings  of  Ernst,  and  of  his  bright,  clever  freaks,  with 
as  much  detail  as  if  they  had  happened  but  the  moment  be- 
fore ;  but,  strangely  enough,  she  did  all  this  without  mention- 
ing his  name.  She  praised  his  flaxen  hair,  and  moved  her 
hand  as  if  passing  it  through  his  locks. 

"  Do  you  not  recollect  how  he  once  said,  '  Mother,  I  can- 
not imagine  how  you  could  have  been  in  the  world  without 
me  : — of  course  I  have  never  been  in  the  world  without 
yoif'?" 

She  repeated  the  words,  "  without  you — without  me,"  per- 
haps a  hundred  times  during  the  night :  and  she  was  almost 
constantly  humming  snatches  of  old  songs. 
*  In  the  morning,  just  as  day  was  breaking,  she  turned 
around  to  me,  and  said  with  a  smile,  "  This  is  his  birthday." 
And  that  was  her  last  smile.  "  This  is  Ernst's  birthday." 

And  when  the  lost  son  returned,  there  was  no  mother  to 
receive  him. 

Her  silent  thoughts  had  always  been  of  him,  but  now 
they  were  deeper  than  ever. 

She  had  lost  her  hearing.  Suddenly  she  exclaimed  in  a 
loud  voice,  "  God  be  praised  ;  Richard  will  marry  her  after 
all!"  and  then — I  cannot  go  on  with  the  story — I  must 
stop. 


WALDFRIED.  2O/ 

It  was  eleven  o'clock  (I  do  not  know  why  I  was  always 
looking  towards  the  clock  that  day)  when  she  said,  "  Water 
from  my  spring." 

Richard  hurried  to  bring  it. 

What  must  his  thoughts  have  been  while  on  his  way  there 
and  back  ! 

He  soon  returned,  bringing  the  water  with  him,  but  she 
seemed  to  have  forgotten  that  she  had  asked  for  it.  When 
Richard  lifted  her  up  in  bed,  and  placed  the  glass  to  her  lips, 
she  motioned  him  away. 

I  heard  a  voice  from  without  the  house.  A  cold  shudder 
came  over  me  ;  my  hair  stood  on  end. 

It  is  the  voice  of  our  son  Ernst  ! 

If  Ernst  were  to  come  at  this  time  !  Could  he  have  been 
drawn  here  by  a  presentiment  of  what  is  happening  ?  And 
if  he  were  here,  what  power  could  dare  take  him  away  from 
us,  at  this  moment — and  how  will  he  enter  his  mother's 
presence  ? 

I  hurried  out.  It  was  Julius — his  voice  is  just  like  Ernst's. 
He  brought  a  letter  that  Edward  Levi  had  handed  to  him. 
It  was  from  Ernst,  and  was  dated  at  Algiers. 

I  could  not  stop  to  read  the  letter.  I  could  not  remain 
away  from  the  bedside — every  moment  was  yet  a  drop  of 
blood  to  me,  and  everything  glimmered  before  my  eyes.  I 
hurried  back  to  the  sick-room  ;  my  wife  looked  at  me  with 
strangely  bright  eyes. 

"  There  is  a  letter  here  from  Ernst !  "  I  called  out. 

I  do  not  know  whether  she  understood  me,  but  she  reached 
for  the  sheet  that  was  in  my  hand,  and  held  it  with  a  con- 
vulsive grasp. 

I  lifted  her  head,  and  moved  it  towards  the  cooler  side  of 
the  pillow  ;  she  opened  her  eyes,  and  tried  to  raise  her  arms  ; 
I  berit  towards  her  and  she  kissed  me. 


208  WALDFRIED.  ; 

It  was  just  striking  the  hour  of  noon,  when  she  breathed 
her  last. 

I  tottered  to  her  room  at  'last ;  it  seemed  to  me  as  if  I 
must  still  find  her  alive ;  and  when  I  was  in  her  chair,  I 
could  not  realize  that  I  was  seated  there,  and  that  she  lay 
so  near  me,  while  I  could  do  nothing  for  her. 

I  do  not  know  how  it  was,  but  I  felt  awed  by  the  very 
silence  of  the  place. 

Martella  said,  "  I  have  stopped  the  clock;  it,  too,  shall 
stand  still." 

They  had  withdrawn  the  letter  from  her  convulsively  closed 
hand,  and  I  read  it.  It  has  since  disappeared — whither,  I 
know  not.  I  remember  only  this — that  it  contained  news 
from  Algiers,  and  that  Ernst  said  in  it  that  if  Martella  and 
Richard  were  fond  of  one  another,  he  was  quite  ready  to  re- 
lease her  from  any  promise  to  him. 

With  the  exception  of  Ernst  and  Ludwig,  all  of  my  children 
were  present.  Many  friends,  too,  were  there.  I  recollect 
that  I  grasped  the  hands  of  many  of  them  ;  but  what  avails 
that  ?  They  all  have  their  own  life  left  them — I  have  none. 

All  arose  to  attend  to  the  funeral.  They  set  down  the 
coffin  in  front  of  the  house,  and  not  far  from  the  spring. 
They  told  me  that  my  grandson,  the  vicar,  delivered  an  im- 
pressive address  in  the  name  of  the  family.  I  heard  nothing 
but  the  rushing  of  the  water. 

How  I  reached  her  grave,  or  who  led  me,  I  know  not. 

This  alone  do  I  know.  I  saw  how  Martella  kissed  the 
handful  of  earth  that  she  threw  into  the  empty  grave,  and 
when  I  returned  homeward,  the  waters  were  still  roaring  in 
our  fountain.  It  roars  and  roars. 

I  felt  borne  down  as  if  by  a  load  of  lead.  Tears  were 
not  vouchsafed  me.  I  could  not  realize  that  my  hands 
could  move,  my  eyes  see — in  fact  that  I  was  still  alive. 


WALDFRIED. 


209 


When  I  looked  out  again  over  the  valley  and  towards  the, 
hills,- it  suddenly  seemed  as  if  my  eyes  had  become  covered 
with  a  film,  and  then  all — the  forest,  the  meadows,  and  the 
houses — seemed  of  a  blood-red  color,  as  if  steeped  in  the 
dark  glow  of  evening. 

I  closed  my  eyes  for  a  long  while,  and  when  I  opened 
them  again,  I  saw  that  the  meadows  and  the  woods  were 
green,  and  everything  had  its  natural  color. 

The  water  flows  over  the  weir  and  bubbles  and  rushes  and 
sparkles  to-day,  just  as  it  did  yesterday,  and  as  it  will  to- 
morrow. How  can  it  be  possible  that  all  continues  to  live 
on,  and  she  not  here.  Do  not  tell  me  that  nature  can  com- 
fort us  against  real  grief.  Against  a  loss  for  aye  she  availeth 
nothing. 

If,  in  your  closet,  you  have  grieved  because  of  insult  and 
falsehood  and  meanness,  do  but  go  out  into  the  fields  or 
woods.  While  gazing  upon  the  bright  and  kindly  face  of 
nature,  or  inhaling  the  sweet  perfume  of  the  trees  and 
flowers,  you  will  soon  learn  to  forget  such  troubles.  How 
weak  is  all  the  world's  wickedness,  when  compared  with 
such  undying  grandeur?  That  which  is  best  on  earth  is 
still  yours,  if  these  things  but  preserve  their  sway  over  you. 
But,  if  your  wife  has  been  torn  away  from  you,  neither  tree,' 
nor  stream,  nor  the  blue  heavens,  nor  the  flowers,  nor  the 
singing  birds  will  help  you.  All  nature  lives  a  life  of  its 
own,  and  unto  itself,  and  of  what  avail  is  it  all,  when  she  no 
longer  shares  it  with  me  ? 

The  first  thing  that  recalled  me  to  myself,  was  hearing  the 
old  spinner  say  to  Carl,  "  Why  am  I  yet  here  ?  She  was  so 
good  and  so  useful,  and  I  am-  nothing  but  a  burden  to  you 
and  to  the  world.  Why  must  I  stay  behind  ?  I  would  so 
gladly  have  gone  in  her  stead." 

The  poor  people  were  gathered  all  about  the  house,  and 


2io  WALD  FRIED. 

one  old  woman  cried  out,  through  her  tears,  "  The  bread 
she  gave  us  was  doubly  welcome,  for  it  was  given  cheer- 
fully." 

I  felt  that  my  energies  would  never  again  arouse  them- 
selves. I  cannot  say  that  the  thought  alarmed  rne ;  I  merely 
felt  conscious  that  my  mental  powers  were  either  failing  or 
torpid.  For  days  I  could  not  collect  my  thoughts,  and  led 
a  dull,  listless,  inanimate  life.  My  children  were  about  me, 
but  their  sympathy  did  not  help  me.  Ernst's  evil  letter  was 
the  only  thing  that  had  any  effect  on  me. 

I  could  not  realize  that  what  had  once  been  life,  was  now 
nothing  more  than  a  thought,  a  memory. 

When  I  heard  some  one  coming  up  the  steps,  I  always 
thought  it  must  be  she  returning  and  saying,  "  I  could  not 
stay  away;  I  must  return  to  you,  you  are  so  lonely.  The 
children  are  good  and  kind,  but  we  two  cannot  remain 
apart."  And  then  I  would  start  with  affright,  when  I  no- 
ticed how  rny  thoughts  had  been  wandering. 

When  I  walked  in  the  street,  I  felt  as  if  I  were  but  half 
of  myself.  As  long  as  she  was  with  me  I  had  always  felt 
myself  rich,  for  my  home  contained  her  who  was  best  of  all. 

No  one  can  know  what  a  wealth  of  soul  had  been  mine ; 
through  her,  and  with  her,  I  had  felt  myself  moving  in  a 
higher  spiritual  sphere.  But  now  I  felt  so  broken,  so  bereft, 
as  if  my  entire  intellectual  possessions  had  gone  to  naught. 
The  children  are  yet  here ;  but  they  are  for  themselves. 
My  wife  alone  was  here  for  me — was  indeed  my  other  self. 

Before  that,  when  I  awakened  of  a  morning  it  was  always 
a  pleasure  to  feel  conscious  of  life  itself;  but  now  with  every 
morrow  I  had  to  begin  anew  and  try  to  learn  how  to  recon- 
cile myself  to  my  loss.  But  that  is  a  lesson  I  shall  never 
learn.  My  sun  had  gone  down  ;  I  did  not  care  to  live  any 
longer,  because  all  that  I  experienced  seemed  to  come  in 


WALDFRIED.  2ll 

between  her  and  me,  and   I   did   not  wish  to  live  but  in 
thoughts  of  her. 

I  looked  at  her  lamp,  her  table,  her  work-basket—all 
these  had  survived  her,  are  still  here,  and  will  remain.  The 
one  clock  was  never  wound  up  afterward.  From  that  day, 
there  was  but  one  clock  heard  in  our  room. 

I  can  now  understand  why  the  ancients  buried  the  working 
implements  with  their  dead. 

I  looked  out  of  the  window.  The  neighbors'  children 
were  in  the  street ;  their  noise  grated  on  my  ears.  I  could 
not  but  think  how  she  once  said  to  me,  "Why  should  it 
annoy  us  ?  Is  it  anything  more  than  the  singing  of  the 
birds  ?  The  children  are  like  so  many  innocent  birds." 

All  things  remind  me  of  her.  I  could  sit  by  the  window 
for  hours  and  look  at  the  chickens  running  back  and  forth, 
picking  up  crumbs,  and  watching  the  strutting  cock. 

I  must  have  been  like  a  little  child  that,  for  the  first  time, 
begins  to  take  notice  of  the  objects  that  surround  it. 

I  seemed  as  if  awaking  from  darkness,  as  if  .dreaming  with 
my  eyes  open.  Everything  seemed  new  and  strangely 
mysterious  to  me,  although  I  had  nearly  attainqd  my 
seventieth  year. 

When,  after  many  weeks,  I  again  saw  my  face  in  the  mir- 
ror, I  was  surprised  at  the  saddened,  sunken  features  of  the 
old  man.  Could  that  be  I ! 

I  had  gone  to  the  neighboring  village  to  order  a  grave- 
stone. On  my  way  home,  night  overtook  me.  Suddenly 
a  storm  burst  upon  the  valley.  "  Like  a  child,  I  counted  the 
interval  between  the  lightning  and  the  thunder.  At  first  I 
could  count  up  to  thirty-two,  afterwards  only  to  seven ;  and 
then  I  stopped  counting.  I  saw  the  houses  by  the  road- 
side, and  knew  who  lived  in  them  •  here  and  there,  I  might 
have  found  shelter,  but  what  should  I  do  in  a  strange  house, 


212 


WALDFRIED. 


wet  to  the  skin  as  I  was?  I  kept  in  the  middle  of  the  road, 
on  the  broken  stone.  When  I  came  to  where  the  little 
bridge  was,  I  had  to  wade  through  the  water. 

I  noticed  that  I  was  in  the  midst  of  the  storm-cloud. 
How  glorious  it  would  have  been  to  die  at  that  moment — to 
be  struck  dead  by  lightning  ! 

"But  my  children,  my  children  ! "  I  uttered  the  words  in 
a  loud  voice,  but  the  thunder  drowned  my  cries. 

The  flashes  of  lightning  succeeded  each  other  so  rapidly 
that  they  blinded  me ;  I  could  see  nothing  more.  I  closed 
my  eyes  and  held  fast  to  a  rock  by  the  wayside.  I  had 
never  heard  such  fearful  roaring  of  the  thunder,  or  seen  such 
uninterrupted  flashes  of  lightning.  I  stood  still  and  con- 
cluded to  wait  there,  while  I  thought  of  the  many  other  be- 
ings who  were  also  exposed  to  this  storm  ;  and  at  last, 
I  could  weep.  I  had  not  wept  since  her  death,  and  now  it 
did  me  good.  The  hail  beat  into  my  face,  already  wet  with 
tears. 

Suddenly  Rothfuss  appears  and  exclaims :  "  Martella 
sends  me.  Oh,  God  be  praised  !  there  is  a  good  bed  waiting 
for  yoij  at  home."  • 

Guided  by  Rothfuss,  I  reached  the  house.  Although  my 
family  were  greatly  concerned  as  to  the  effect  it  might  have, 
the  shock  that  I  had  undergone  had  really  benefited  me.  I 
slept  until  noon,  and  when  I  arose  I  felt  as  if  breathing  a 
new  life. 

I  must  stop  here.  I  cannot  go  on.  I  was  obliged  to 
learn  how  to  begin  life  anew.  When  one  has  buried  his 
dearest  love  in  the  earth,  the  earth  itself  becomes  a  changed 
world,  and  one's  step  upon  it  a  different  one.  I  trust  that  I 
shall  not  be  obliged  hereafter  to  repeat  my  lamentations  for 
my  own  life.  The  first  tranquillizing  influence  1  found  was 


WALDFRIED. 


213 


in  the  statue  gallery,  with  its  figures  from  another  world,  so 
silent,  so  unchanging.  We  can  offer  them  nothing,  and  yet 
they  give  us  so  much :  they  are  without  life  or  color,  but 
they  represent  life  in  its  imperishable  beauty. 

Rothfuss  offered  me  a  strange  solace.  He  said,  "  Master, 
there  must  be  another  woman  somewhere  in  this  world  just 
as  she  was." 

"Why?" 

"  I  always  thought  that  God  only  suffered  the  sun  to  shine 
because  she  was  here,  but  I  see  that  the  sun  still  shines,  and 
so  there  must  be  others  like  her." 

Martella,  however,  could  not  realize  that  she  was  dead. 

"  It  cannot  be :  it  is  not  true  :  she  is  not  dead.  She  is 
surely  coming  up  the  steps  now.  How  is  it  possible  that  a 
being  can  remain  away  from  those  who  love  her  so  ?  I  have 
one  request  to  make.  I  wish  you  would  give  the  pretty 
dresses  to  Madame  Johanna  and  Fraulein  Christiane  ;  a 
few  of  the  work-day  clothes  you  can  give  to  me,  and  the 
good  woollen  dress  you  can  give  to  Carl's  mother.  Let  no 
one  else  have  any  of  her  clothes.  It  would  grieve  me  to  the 
heart  to  know  that  a  strange  person  was  wearing  anything 
that  she  had  worn.  Whoever  wears  a  dress  of  hers  can 
neither  think  an  evil  thought  nor  do  an  evil  deed." 

My  son  Ludwig  wrote  a  letter,  in  which  he  lamented  my 
wife's  death  with  all  the  feeling  of  which  a  son  is  capable, 
and  yet  spoke  of  death  as  a  wise  man  should.  My  daughter 
Johanna  lost  the  letter.  I  think  she  must  have  destroyed  it 
on  account  of  the  heresies  it  contained. 

My  consolation  is  that  I  have  been  found  worthy  of  the 
perfect  love  of  so  pure  a  being ;  that,  of  itself,  is  worth  all 
the  troubles  of  life.  Let  what  may  come  hereafter,  what  1 
have  experienced  cannot  be  taken  from  me. 


214  WALDFRIED. 

I  have  had  a  tomb-stone  placed  at  her  grave.     It  has  two 
tablets — on  one  are  the  words  : 

"HERE  LIES 

IPHIGENIA  GUSTAVA  WALDFRIED, 

Born  December  i5//z,  1807, 

Died  July  23^,  1867." 

On  the  other,  my  name  shall  one  day  be  placed. 


BOOK    THIRD. 


CHAPTER  I. 

LIFE  is  indeed  a  sacred  trust. 
I  now  began  to  feel  that  great  and  noble  duties  yet 
claimed  me. 

I  had  become  dull  and  listless.  I  had  taken  life  as  it 
came,  resigning  my  will  to  outer  influences,  just  as  one  with- 
out appetite  sits  down  to  a  meal,  merely  to  gain  nourish- 
ment. 

I  had  become  morbidly  sensitive ;  every  effort  that  was 
made  to  alleviate  my  sufferings  and  restore  my  accustomed 
spirits  only  served  to  pain  me  anew. 

I  was  now  experiencing  the  worst  effect  of  grief — indif- 
ference to  the  world. 

My  path  seemed  to  lie  through  dismal  darkness  ;  but  at 
last  I  stepped  out  into  the  bright  light  of  day  and  into  the 
busy  haunts  of  men. 

The  village  street  leads  into  the  highway ;  the  forest-brooks 
flow  on  until  they  reach  the  river  that  empties  itself  into  the 
ocean. 

Thus  too  has  it  been  with  my  life. 

Yielding  to  Joseph's  earnest  wishes,  I  had  made  a  collec- 
tion of  specimens  illustrating  every  stage  in  the  cultivation 
and  growth  of  the  white  pine.  When  the  collection  was 
complete,  I  sent  it  to  the  great  Paris  Exposition. 


2I6  WALDFRIED. 

I  received  a  medal  of  honor.  I  did  not  really  deserve  it ; 
it  should  in  justice  have  gone  to  Ernst,  who  had  acquainted 
me  with  the  results  of  his  careful  study  of  the  subject. 

I  have  the  diploma,  and  the  medal  bearing  the  effigy  of 
Napoleon.  I  looked  at  them  but  once,  and  then  enclosed 
them  under  seal.  They  will  be  found  in  the  little  casket  thai 
contains  my  discharge  from  the  fortress  and  other  strange 
mementoes  of  the  past. 

Joseph  asked  me  to  accompany  him  to  Paris,  and  would 
listen  to  no  refusal.  He  wanted  to  acquaint  himself  with  the 
new  methods  of  kyanizing  railroad  ties,  and  insisted  that  he 
could  not  get  along  without  my  aid. 

I  had  not  yet  escaped  from  that  condition  in  which  it  is 
well  to  resign  one's  self  to  the  guidance  of  others. 

I  saw  Paris  for  the  second  time.  My  first  visit  was  in 
1832  or  1833,  and  was  undertaken  with  the  object  of  mak- 
ing the  acquaintance  of  La  Fayette.  In  those  days  we 
fondly  believed  that  Paris  was  to  save  the  world. 

Compared  with  what  I  now  saw,  all  that  had  been  done  in 
the  Parliament  that  was  held  in  the  High  street  of  our  little 
capital  seemed  petty  and  trifling. 

Though  storms  were  gathering,  Jupiter  Napoleon  sat 
enthroned  over  all  Europe,  and  ruled  the  thunder  and  the 
lightning. 

I  saw  him  surrounded  by  all  the  European  monarchs,  and 
often  asked  myself  whether  the  world's  life  is,  after  all,  any- 
thing but  mummery. 

One  day,  while  I  was  sitting  on  a  bench  in  the  Champs 
ElysSes,  and  gazing  at  the  lively,  bustling  throng  that  passed 
before  me,  I  was  approached  by  a  Turco,  who  said  to  me  : 

"  Are  you  not  Herr  Waldfried  ?  " 

My  heart  trembled  with  emotion. 

Was  it  not  Ernst's  voice?    Before   I   could  collect  my 


WALDFRIED. 


217 


thoughts,  the  stranger  had  vanished  in  the  great  crowd  that 
followed  in  the  wake  of  the  Emperor,  who  was  just  passing 
by. 

I  caught  another  glimpse  of  the  man  with  the  red  fez  and 
called  out  to  him  ;  but  he  had  vanished. 

Had  I  been  awake  or  dreaming  ? 

It  could  not  have  been  Ernst.  He  would  not  have  left 
me  after  thus  addressing  me.  And  if  it  were  he  after  all ! 
I  felt  sure  that  he  would  return  ;  so  I  waited  in  the  hope  of 
again  seeing  the  stranger.  The  people  who  passed  me 
seemed  like  so  many  shadows,  and  I  felt  as  if  withdrawn 
from  the  world. 

Night  approached,  and  I  was  obliged  to  go  to  my  lodgings. 
I  told  Joseph  of  all  that  had  happened.  He  stoutly  main- 
tained that  I  must  have  been  dreaming ;  but  nevertheless 
went  with  me  the  next  day  to  the  Champs  Elysees  where, 
seated  on  a  bench,  we  waited  for  hours  without  seeing  any 
sign  of  the  stranger. 

On  my  journey  homeward,  I  spent  a  whole  week  with  my 
sister  who  lives  in  the  forest  of  Hagenau.  She  can  cheer 
me  up  better  than  any  of  my  children  can.  Her  excellent 
memory  enabled  her  to  remind  me  of  many  little  incidents 
connected  with  our  childhood  and  our  parental  home.  In 
her  house,  I  was,  for  the  first  time  since  my  affliction,  able 
to  indulge  in  a  hearty  laugh. 

In  the  eyes  of  my  brother-in-law,  the  medal  awarded  me 
at  the  Exposition  invested  me  with  new  importance  ;  he 
never  omitted  to  allude  to  this  mark  of  distinction,  when  in 
troducing  me  to  his  acquaintances.  On  the  i5th  of  August, 
Napoleon's  fete  day,  he  actually  wanted  me  to  wear  the 
medal  on  my  coat.  He  could  not  understand  why  I  would 
not  carry  it  about  with  me  constantly,  so  as  to  make  a  show 
of  my  medal  of  honor,  notwithstanding  the  fact  that  the 


218 


WALDFRIED. 


French  consider  their  whole  nation  as  the  world's  legion  of 
honor.  Every  individual  among  them  seems  anxious  to 
thrust  himself  forward  at  the  expense  of  the  rest. 

My  sister  privately  informed  me  that  the  young  sergeant 
whom  I  met  at  her  house  was  a  suitor  for  the  hand  of  her 
eldest  daughter,  and  was  only  awaiting  the  satisfactory  settle- 
ment of  the  proper  dowry  on  his  future  wife.  He  was  a 
young  man  of  limited  information,  but  was  very  polite  and 
respectful  towards  me.  He  hoped  to  win  his  epaulets  in  an 
early  war  with  Prussia,  which  had  been  so  bold  as  to  gain  Sa- 
dowa  and  conclude  a  peace  without  paying  France  the  trib- 
ute of  a  portion  of  her  territory. 

The  young  man  evidently  thought  himself  vastly  my  supe- 
rior, and  spoke  of  the  future  of  the  South  German  States  in 
a  patronizing  and  pitying  tone.  As  I  did  not  think  it  worth 
while  to  contradict  him,  he  fondly  thought  that  he  was  in- 
structing me. 

As  a  German,  I  found  the  Hagenau  Forest  of  especial  in- 
terest, from  the  fact  that  a  part  of  it  had  been  presented 
to  the  town  of  Hagenau  by  the  Empeior  Frederick  Barba- 
rossa. 

I  gave  my  brother-in-law  m<my  councils  in  regard  to  ar- 
boriculture ;  but,  as  the  new  ideas  entailed  work,  he  declined 
making  use  of  them.  He  was  very  proud  of  his  epaulets 
which  were  displayed  in  a  little  frame  that  hung  on  the  wall ; 
but  he  was  devoid  of  all  love  for  the  forest,  and  indifferent 
to  anything  that  helped  the  State  without  at  the  same  time 
contributing  to  his  personal  advancement. 

I  passed  a  delightful  day  with  my  brother-in-law  the  pastor. 

I  accompanied  him  to  church,  and  was  greatly  moved 
to  once  again  hear  German  preaching  and  German  hymns. 
The  organist  was  one  of  the  most  respected  men  of  the 
neighborhood,  and  was  the  owner  of  a  large  forge. 


WALDFRIED. 


219 


I  was  introduced  to  him  after  the  ser  /ice.  In  the  pres- 
ence of  others,  he  was  quite  reserved  towards  me ;  but  dur- 
ing the  afternoon,  he  visited  the  pastor,  and,  while  we  were 
seated  in  the  arbor  under  the  walnut-tree,  we  conversed  freely 
in  regard  to  the  dangers  that,  in  Alsace,  menaced  the  last 
remnant  of  German  institutions  and  the  Evangelical 
Church. 

"  France  was  happiest  under  Louis  Philippe,"  said  the 
pastor  ;  and  when  the  manufacturer  ventured  to  inveigh 
against  the  Emperor,  he  replied  that  Napoleon  was  not  so 
bad  a  man  after  all,  but  that  the  Empress  was  spoiling  every- 
thing ;  that  she  was  a  friend  of  the  Pope,  and  was  endeavor- 
ing, at  one  and  the  same  time,  to  destroy  Protestantism  and 
increase  luxury. 

1  returned  home.  Johanna  superintended  my  household 
affairs,  and  also  the  farm,  with  great  judgment. 

During  the  whole  winter  I  was  in  delicate  health,  and  in 
the  following  year  I  was  obliged  to  visit  the  springs  of  Tar- 
asp.  Richard  accompanied  me. 

I  was  indeed  unwell,  for  when  I  rode  through  the  Prattigau 
and  the  wild  waters  of  the  Land-quart  roared  at  the  side  of 
the  road,  it  seemed  to  me  as  if  the  stream  were  a  living  mon- 
ster that  was  climbing  up  and  seeking  to  devour  me. 

When  on  Fluella,  I  plucked  the  first  Alpine  rose.  I  wept. 
There  was  no  one  left  to  whom  I  could  carry  the  flower  that 
bloomed  by  the  wayside. 

Richard  regarded  me  for  a  long  while  in  silence,  and  at 
last  said,  "  Father,  I  know  what  it  is  that  moves  your  soul. 
Let  it  content  you  that  you  did  so  much  to  make  her  life  a 
lovely  one." 

On  those  heights,  where  no  plant  can  live,  where  no  bird 
sings,  where  nothing  can  be  heard  but  the  rushing  of  the 
snow  currents,  where  the  fragments  of  rocks  lay  bare  and 


22O  WALDFRIED. 

bleak,  and  eternal  snows  fill  the  ravines,  I  felt  as  if  I  were 
floating  in  eternity — released  from  all  that  belonged  to  earth 
— and  I  called  out  her  name — "  Gustava  ! " 

Ah,  if  one  could  wait  until  death  should  overtake  him  in 
this  cold,  bleak  region,  where  naught  that  has  life  can 
endure. 

I  went  on,  and  met  people  who  had  pitched  their  dwell- 
ings in  lofty  spots,  in  order  to  shelter  and  entertain  tourists. 
My  heart  seemed  congealed ;  but  I  can  yet  remember 
where  I  was  when  it  again  thawed  into  life.  Neither  the 
lofty  mountains  nor  the  mighty  landscape  helped  me.  I  sat 
by  the  roadside  and  saw  a  little  bush  growing  from  among 
the  rubble-stones  and  bearing  the  blue  flowers  called  snake- 
weed.  And  it  was  there  that  I  became  myself  again. 

But  look !  A  bee  comes  flying  towards  the  bush.  She 
bends  down  into  the  open  blossoms ;  she  overlooks  none 
of  them,  from  the  top  to  the  bottom  of  the  bush,  but  seems 
to  find  nothing,  and  flies  off  to  another  flower.  On  the  next 
branch  she  sucks  for  a  long  while  from  every  flower-cup. 

A  second  bee,  apparently  a  younger  one,  approaches. 
She,  too,  tries  flower  after  flower,  and  does  not  know  that 
some  one  has  been  there  before  her.  At  last,  however,  she 
seems  to  become  aware  of  the  fact,  and  skips  two  or  three 
of  the  blossoms  until  she  at  last  finds  one  that  contains 
nourishment  for  her. 

Here  by  the  wayside,  just  as  up  above  where  human  foot- 
steps do  not  reach,  there  grows  a  flower  that  blooms  for 
itself,  and  yet  bears  within  it  nourishment  for  another. 

I  do  not  know  how  long  I  may  have  been  seated  there, 
but  when  I  arose  I  felt  that  life  had  returned  to  me,  and 
that  I  was  in  full  sympathy  with  all  that  was  firmly  rooted  in 
the  earth  or  freely  moving  upon  its  surface. 

My  soul  had  been  closed  to  the  world,  but  was  now  again 


WALDFRIED.  221 

open  to  the  air  and  the  sunshine  of  existence.  From  that 
moment,  I  felt  the  spell  of  the  lofty  peaks  and  lovely  scenery, 
and,  yielding  to  it,  at  last  became  absorbed  in  self-corn 
m  union. 

I  was  again  living  in  unconstrained  and  cheerful  intercourse 
with  human  beings ;  and  indeed  I  could  not,  at  times,  refrain 
from  showing  some  of  the  w'.-ll-in formed  Swiss  that  I  met 
how  carelessly  and  sinfully  their  countrymen  were  treating 
the  forests.  They  complained  that  the  independence  of  the 
cantons  and  the  unrestrained  liberty  of  individuals  rendered 
it  useless  to  make  any  attempt  to  protect  the  forests. 

I  made  the  acquaintance  of  many  worthy  men,  and  that, 
after  all,  is  always  the  greatest  acquisition. 

We  met  the  widow  of  our  cousin  who  had  fallen  at  Kbnig- 
gratz.  She  was  exceedingly  gay,  was  surrounded  by  a  train 
of  admirers,  and  flaunted  in  elegant  attire.  She  nodded  to 
us  formally  and  seemed  to  take  no  pride  in  her  citizen 
relatives. 

I  must  report  another  occurrence. 

On  the  very  last  morning,  Richard  had  succeeded  in 
plucking  a  large  bunch  of  edelweiss.  He  was  coming  down 
the  mountain  where  the  wagon  was  waiting  for  us.  Just 
then  another  wagon  arrived,  and  in  it  was  Annette  with  her 
maid. 

RichaiJ  offered  the  flowers  to  Annette. 

"  Were  you  thinking  of  me  when  you  plucked  them  ? " 
she  asked. 

"  To  be  truthful,  I  was  not." 

"  Thanks  for  the  flowers — and  for  your  honesty." 

"  I  did  not  know,  when  plucking  them,  for  whom  they 
were  ;  but  I  am  glad  to  know  that  now  they  are  yours." 

"  Thanks ;  you  are  always  candid." 

We  continued  our  journey.     On  the  way,  Richard  said, 


222  WALDFRIED. 

"Our  cousin,  the  Baroness,  is  quite  a  new  character;  she 
ought  to  be  called  *  the  watering-place  widow.'  She  travels 
from  one  watering-place  to  another,  wears  mourning  or  half- 
mourning,  is  quite  interesting,  and  always  has  a  crowd  buzz- 
ing around  her.  It  were  a  great  pity  if  Annette  were  to 
turn  out  in  the  same  way." 

I  replied,  "If  she  were  to  marry,  which  indeed,  were 
greatly  to  be  desired,  she  would  no  longer  be  '  the  watering- 
place  widow.' " 

He  made  no  answer,  but  bit  off  the  end  of  a  cigar  which 
he  had  been  holding  in  his  hand  for  some  time. 

On  our  way  home,  we  rested  in  the  shadow  of  a  rock  on 
a  high  Alpine  peak,  and  there  I  found  a  symbol  of  what  was 
passing  between  Annette  and  Richard — a  forget-me-not 
growing  among  nettles. 


CHAPTER  II. 

I  REACHED  home  refreshed  and  invigorated.  The 
china-asters  that  she  had  planted  were  blooming.  Mar- 
tella  had  decorated  her  grave  with  the  loveliest  flowers,  and 
maintained  that  the  wild  bees  affected  that  spot  more  than 
any  other.  Her  memory  gradually  began  to  present  itself 
to  me  as  overgrown  with  flowers. 

I  went  to  attend  the  winter  session  of  the  Parliament,  and 
Martella  accompanied  me.  We  lived  with  Annette — she 
would  take  no  refusal,  and  we  were  both  at  ease  in  her 
beautiful  house. 

Annette  always  wanted  to  have  Martella  about  her. 
but  Martella  had  an  unconquerable — I  cannot  say  aversion, 
but,  rather,  dread  of  Annette ;  for  Annette  had  an  un- 
pleasant habit  of  calling  attention  to  every  remark  of  Mar- 
tella's,  and  had  even  quoted  several  of  them  in  society. 

Richard,  who,  as  the  representative  of  the  University,  had 
become  a  member  of  the  Upper  Chamber,  seemed  pro- 
voked ;  not  on  account  of  my  having  brought  Martella  with 
me,  but  because  1  had  allowed  myself  to  be  induced  to  stay 
at  Annette's  house. 

He  hinted  that  Annette's  marked  hospitality  was  not 
caused  by  regard  for  me ;  and  it  really  seemed  as  if  she 
desired  to  see  much  of  Richard  at  her  house,  although  he 
had  been  cold  and  distant,  and,  at  times,  even  scornful 
towards  her.  Nevertheless,  he  often  visited  us  and  allowed 
Annette  to  draw  him  into  all  sorts  of  discussions. 

One  evening  when  we  three  were  alone, — Annette  had 
been  invited  to  the  house  of  a  friend, — Martella  said : 


224 


WALDFRIED. 


"  Richard,  do  you  know  what  Madame  Annette  admires 
most  in  you  ?  " 

"  No." 

"  Your  fine  teeth.  She  lets  you  use  your  good  teeth  to 
crack  her  hard  nuts." 

Richard  jumped  up  from  his  seat  embraced  Martella,  and 
kissed  her. 

Martella  blushed  crimson  and  called  out,  "Richard,  you 
are  so  polite  and  yet  so  rude  !  Is  that  proper  ?  " 

But  Richard  was  quite  happy  to  know  that  Martella  had 
guessed  at  what  had  so  often  displeased  him. 

Martella,  who  never  wanted  to  leave  me,  one  day  sud- 
denly expressed  a  wish  to  return  home.  Annette  had  on 
the  previous  evening  taken  her  to  the  theatre,  where  a  ballet 
had  been  produced  in  addition  to  the  drama.  A  little  child, 
representing  a  winged  spirit,  had  descended  from  above, 
and  Martella  had  called  out  in  a  loud  voice,  "  That  hurts  !  " 

All  eyes  were  turned  to  Annette's  box,  in  which  Martella 
sat  with  her  eyes  wide  open  and  looking  towards  the  stage 
as  if  oblivious  of  aught  else. 

Annette  left  the  theatre  with  her.  Martella  could  not  be 
induced  to  utter  a  single  word  in  explanation  of  her  sudden 
fright.  I  was  surprised  to  find  how  Annette  bore  this  mis- 
hap, in  which  she  herself  had  been  subjected  to  the  unkind 
glances  of  all  the  audience.  "  How  strange,"  said  she  ;  "  we 
are  all,  unconsciously,  slaves  of  ceremony.  There  seems  to 
be  a  tacit  understanding  that  every  member  of  a  theatre 
audience  or  art-gathering  must  either  remain  silent  or  con- 
fine himself  to  one  of  two  childish  expressions — clapping 
the  hands  and  hissing.  And  here  this  child  is  perfectly  in- 
*nocent,  and  I  thank  her  for  having  solved  another  problem 
for  me." 

In  the  morning,  Martella  wanted  to  go  home.     We  ac- 


WALDFRIED.  225 

companied  her  to  the  depot,  and  I  telegraphed  to  Rothfuss 
to  meet  her  at  the  station. 

My  active  labors  for  the  Fatherland  had  restored  me.  In 
my  solitary  walks,  my  mind  was  now  occupied  by  something 
besides  constant  thoughts  of  myself. 

Spring  was  with  us  again,  and  the  wondrous  power  that 
revives  the  human  soul  had  its  influence  on  me. 

I  was  often  invited  to  consultations  in  regard  to  matters 
affecting  the  common  weal,  and  it  seemed  as  if  my  little 
world  was  extending  its  area,  when  I  made  the  acquaintance 
of  many  brave  men,  who  lived  in  a  neighboring  district,  and 
who  kept  alive  their  hopes  for  the  future  of  our  Fatherland. 

During  the  summer  holidays,  Richard  paid  us  a  visit.  He 
and  Baron  Arven  had  stocked  the  forest-streams  with  choice 
varieties  of  fish.  In  some  instances  they  had  not  succeeded 
in  getting  a  pure  breed  ;  there  were  pikes  among  their  fish. 

He  was  fortunate  enough  with  several  of  the  streams,  but 
was  greatly  provoked  to  find  that  the  farmers  of  the  neigh- 
boring villages  would  not  wait  until  the  young  brood  had 
grown,  and  had  already  begun  to  catch  the  fish.  He  induced 
the  authorities  to  threaten  the  farmers  with  a  fine,  but  on  the 
next  day  found  the  notice  floating  on  the  stream. 

He  appointed  a  forester  as  watchman,  and  spent  the  night 
in  a  log  cabin  hastily  built  near  by.  Once  they  were  fortu- 
nate enough  to  catch  the  thief. 

Richard  and  the  forester  brought  the  culprit  before  the 
authorities,  and  he  was  sentenced  to  six  weeks'  imprison- 
ment. While  we  were  seated  at  table,  Richard  expressed 
his  satisfaction  at  the  punishment  which  had  been  meted 
out  to  the  offender.  This  made  Martella  as  angry  as  I  have 
ever  seen  her,  and  she  became  the  more  provoked  when 
Richard  quickly  took  down  the  mirror  and  held  it  up  to  her, 
saying  : 

15 


226  WALDFRIED. 

"  Here,  look  at  yourself;  you  are  prettiest  when  you  are 
angry." 

"  It  is  nothing  to  you,  how  I  look  ! "  cried  Martella.  "  Tell 
such  things  to  your  Madame  Annette,  but  not  to  me." 

The  color  left  Richard's  cheeks. 

Annette  had  for  several  weeks  been  living  in  the  neighbor- 
hood, with  Baroness  Arven,  and  Martella  had  hardly  finished 
speaking,  when  we  heard  the  clatter  of  horses'  hoofs  in  front 
of  the  house.  Annette  and  Baron  Arven  came  riding  up 
the  road.  The  Baron  congratulated  Richard  on  having 
caught  the  first  of  the  pirates,  and  Annette  was  in  quite  a 
merry  mood. 

The  Baron  also  brought  us  a  piece  of  news  that  he  had 
just  received  from  his  brother,  the  forester-in-chief,  to  the 
effect  that  my  grandson  Julius  had  been  appointed  assistant 
forester,  and  that  the  next  official  gazette  would  announce 
the  appointment. 

We  sent  for  Joseph.  We  were  all  very  happy  at  the  news, 
and  Martella  exclaimed,  "  That  is  the  position  Ernst  wished 
for.  But  I  congratulate  Miss  Martha  with  all  my  heart — 
she  will  make  a  handsome  young  wife  for  the  town  forester." 

We  had  always  avoided  alluding  to  this  connection,  but 
now  that  it  had  been  openly  mentioned,  we  made  no  conceal- 
ment of  our  joy. 


CHAPTER   III. 

RICHARD  and  the  Baron  rode  over  to  the  Wild  Lake 
which  they  had  intended  to  stock.     Annette  accom- 
panied them. 

It   was   already  night,   but   Richard  had   not   returned ; 

I  was  seated  alone  at  the  table,  and  waiting  for  him.     It  had 
always  been  his  habit  to  tell  us  when  he  intended  to  remain 
out  longer  than  the  usual  time. 

Martella  entered.    Her  cheeks  were  flushed,  and  she  said, 

II  Father,  send  me  away — wherever  it  be.     I  cannot  remain 
here.     It  shall  not  be  my  fault  if  any  one  is  bad." 

Trembling,  and  covering  her  face  with  her  hands,  she  de- 
clared that  Richard  had  told  her  that  Ernst  was  unworthy  of 
her,  even  if  he  were  yet  living,  and  that  he  would  never  re- 
turn again.  And  after  that  he  said — it  was  some  time  before 
she  would  tell  what  it  was,  and  at  last  she  exclaimed  :  "  that 
he  loves  me  with  all  his  heart,  and  wanted  to  make  me  his 
wife  !  He  !  His  brother  !  I  would  rather  he  should  tie  a 
stone  about  my  neck,  and  throw  me  into  the  lake  where  his 
young  fishes  are  !  I  could  hardly  believe  at  first,  that  he 
had  said  it,  and  answered  him  :  '  That  is  a  poor  joke  :  just 
think  of  how  your  mother  would  feel  if  she  knew  that  you 
would  joke  in  this  way  ! '  and  then  he  swore  that  mother  had 
said  Ernst  was  untrue  to  me,  and  had  for  that  very  reason 
gone  out  into  the  wide  world.  Can  mother  have  said  that  ? 
My  eyes  would  start  from  their  sockets,  before  Ernst  would  for- 
sake me.  But  let  me  never  sec  Richard  again.  Never  !  Let 


228  WALDFRIED. 

me  go  away.  You  can  send  me  away,  but  Richard  cannot 
cease  to  be  your  son.  Nor  can  I  cease  to  be  your  child, 
but  I  can  go  away." 

It  is  impossible  to  find  words  for  all  that  bubbled  forth 
from  Martella's  soul.  I  pacified  her,  and  she  promised  to 
remain  until  the  next  day. 

I  sat  up  alone  to  await  Richard's  return.  He  did  not 
come  until  near  midnight. 

He  wanted  to  bid  me  a  short  "  good-night,"  but  I  detained 
him.  He  sat  down  and  told  me  that  the  Baron  and  Annette 
had  met  Rautenkron  down  by  the  lake,  and  that  he  had 
ridiculed  their  undertaking.  He  had  said,  and  rightly  too  : 
"  Where  there  are  no  frogs,  there  is  no  stork  ;  where  there 
are  no  flies  and  worms,  there  are  no  birds  or  fishes.  In 
what  was  called  'all-bountiful  nature'  one  beast  used  the 
other  for  its  blessed  meal ;  and,  besides  that,  the  lake  was 
entirely  frozen  over  every  winter,  and  had  no  outlet  that  was 
open  through  the  whole  year.  If  fishes  were  in  it,  they 
would  become  suffocated-for  want  of  air." 

Rautenkron  had  displayed  much  knowledge  in  the  matter, 
but  he  would  not  consent  to" assist  them.  He  was  delighted, 
moreover,  that  nature  contained  much  that  was  egotistic  and 
was  of  no  use  to  mankind.  Thus  spoke  Richard. 

I  was  indignant.  I  could  hardly  conceive  how  Richard 
could  talk  about  such  subjects,  and  not  make  the  slightest 
allusion  to  what  had  happened  between  him  and  Martella. 
I  thought  of  Ernst's  letter  that  I  had  received  on  the  day  of 
my  wife's  death.  No  one  had  seen  it  but  I  ;  for  why  should 
I  have  cared  to  spread  the  knowledge  of  Ernst's  wickedness 
in  offering  his  betrothed  to  another  ?  Could  it  be  that  an 
open  rupture  with  Annette  had  urged  Richard  to  this  un- 
heard-of deed  ? 

I  endeavored  to  stifle  my  indignation,  and  said,  "You 


WALDFRIED. 


229 


talk  of  the  Wild  Lake — Wild  Lake,  indeed  ;  you  have  an  un- 
fathomable one  in  yourself." 

He  looked  at  me  with  surprise. 

"What  do  you  mean,  father  ?" 

"  How  can  you  ask  ?  You  dare  to  touch  that  which 
should  be  holy  in  your  eyes — the  betrothed  of  your  brother  ! " 

"  Father,  did  she  tell  you  herself?  "  he  said  hesitatingly. 

And  I  replied  : 

"What  matters  that?  Until  now,  I  had  always  thought 
that  you  were  even  a  better  man  than  I  was  at  your  age ; 
do  not  undeceive  me." 

I  said  nothing  more,  and  that  was  enough. 

On  the  following  morning,  Richard  announced  that  he 
was  about  to  depart,  and  it  cost  me  a  great  effort  to  induce 
Martella  to  permit  him  to  take  leave  of  her.  At  last  she 
came,  on  condition  that  I  would  remain  present  while  Rich- 
ard bade  her  farewell. 

Richard  said  : 

"  Martella,  you  have  a  right  to  be  angry  with  me,  but  I 
am  angrier  at  myself  than  you  can  possibly  be.  I  make  no 
protestations,  no  oaths  ;  but  I  pledge  my  honor  as  a  man, 
that  you  will  nevermore  hear  a  wrong  word  or  receive  a 
wrong  glance  from  me.  Farewell." 

Thus,  this  trouble  was  arranged ;  but  it  seemed  as  if  there 
could  be  nothing  perfect  in  this  world. 

I  do  not  know  whether  Johanna  had  been  eavesdropping, 
or  how  she  happened  to  find  it  out ;  but,  at  dinner,  she 
spitefully  hinted  at  what  had  happened,  for  when  we  were 
talking  of  the  imprisoned  fish  poacher,  she  said,  "  People 
who  are  without  religion  are  capable  of  anything,  and  the 
irreligious  ones  who  catch  a  thief  are  no  better  than  the  thief 
himself.  They  stretch  forth  their  hands  to  grasp  things  that 
ought  to  be  sacred  in  their  eyes."- 


230 


WALDFRIED. 


During  the  whole  of  that  winter  I  saw  nothing  of  Richard, 
and  received  but  one  letter  from  him,  in  which  he  informed 
me  that  he  had  been  offered  an  appointment  at  a  distant 
university,  and  that,  for  many  reasons,  he  would  gladly  have 
accepted  it,  but  that  the  Prince  had  requested  him  to  remain! 
in  the  country.  He  added  that  he  was  now  again  able  to 
say  that  his  only  happiness  lay  in  the  pursuit  of  science. 

It  was  a  great  pleasure  to  me  to  have  Julius  stationed  in 
our  neighborhood.  He  was  so  pure,  so  fresh,  and  so  bright, 
that  whenever  he  came  to  our  house,  his  presence  seemed 
like  the  odor  of  flowers. 

I  am  indebted  to  Julius  for  joys  which  even  transcend 
those  my  children  have  given  me,  and  my  pride  in  my  eldest 
grandson  was  now  about  to  be  mingled  with  that  I  cherished 
for  my  eldest  son. 

My  joy  was  fully  shared  by  Rothftiss.  He  counted  how 
many  days  it  would  be  before  Ludwig  arrived,  and  said  : 

"  There  are  but  seven  steps  yet — right  foot,  sleep ;  left 
foot,  get  up  ;  or,  taking  it  the  other  way,  the  two  together 
make  one  step." 

The  last  days  of  waiting  seemed  long,  even  to  me.  Lud- 
wig had  particularly  requested  that  I  should  not  go  to  meet 
him. 

On  the  night  before  his  arrival,  I  suddenly  felt  so  op- 
pressed that  I  thought  I  should  die. 

I  heard  footsteps  on  the  stairs,  and,  afterward,  the  breath- 
ing of  some  one  in  front  of  my  door.  Assuredly,  he  has 
wished  to  prevent  my  worrying — he  is  here  already. 

"Who  is  there?" 

"  It  is  I, — Rothfuss.  I  thought  to  myself  that  you  would 
not  be  able  to  sleep,  and  then  it  suddenly  occurred  to  me 
that  everybody  says  I  am  so  entertaining  that  I  can  put  any 
one  to  sleep,  and  so  I  thought — " 


WALDFRIED. 


231 


Rothfuss*  allusion  to  this  peculiar  art  made  me  laugh  so 
heartily  that  I  felt  quite  well  again.  After  he  left  the  room, 
I  was  obliged  to  laugh  again  at  the  thought  of  what  he  had 
said ;  and  then  I  fell  asleep,  and  did  not  awake  until  the 
bright  daylight  shone  into  my  room. 


CHAPTER  IV. 

May  28,  1870. 

OOD-MORNING,  dear  Henry,"  she  said  to  herself, 
this  day  forty-six  years  ago,  when  she  awoke  on  the 
last  morning  she  spent  in  her  own  chamber. 

"  Good-morning,  Gustava,"  said  I,  opening  my  eyes.  It 
was  the  anniversary  of  our  wedding-day,  and  every  year 
while  we  were  together,  these  were  the  first  accents  from 
her  lips  and  mine — in  joy  and  in  sorrow,  always  the  same. 

And  this  very  morning,  when  awakening,  I  heard  her 
quite  distinctly  in  my  dream  saying,  "  Good-morning, 
Henry."  But  I  am*  alone.  She  has  been  snatched  away 
from  me. 

On  this  day  our  first-born  returns  from  the  new  world.  I 
am  writing  these  words  in  the  early  dawn,  as  it  will  be  a 
long  while  before  I  again  have  a  chance  quietly  to  set  down 
my  recollections.  I  will  now  prepare  myself  to  go  forth  and 
meet  my  son. 

June,  1870. 

Ludwig  and  Richard  have  gone  to  the  capital,  and  I  have 
at  last  quiet  and  time  to  note  down  his  arrival  and.  his 
presence  with  us. 

I  had  just  finished  writing  the  above  lines,  on  the  twenty- 
eighth  of  May,  when  I  heard  Rothfuss  drawing  the  chaise  up 
from  the  barn  to  the  front  of  the  house.  He  then  placed 
the  jack-screw  under  the  frame  and  took  off  one  wheel  after 
the  other  and  greased  the  axles,  singing  and  whistling  while 
at  his  work. 


WALDFRIED. 


233 


He  saw  me  seated  at  the  window,  and  called  out  in  a  joy- 
ful voice  : 

"  One  waits  ever  so  long  for  the  Kirchweih,*  but  it  comes 
at  last.  Martella  is  up  already,  and  has  been  fixing  up  the 
beehives  with  red  ribbons ;  the  bees,  too,  are  to  know  that 
joy  comes  to  this  house  to-day.  While  busy  at  her  work, 
she  called  out  Ernst's  name,  as  if  she  could  drag  him  here 
that  way.  But  to-day  we  must  not  let  ourselves  remember 
that  any  one  is  missing." 

There  it  was  again.  No  cup  of  joy  without  its  drop  of 
gall. 

But  the  mind  has  great  power,  and  one  can  force  himself 
to  forget  things. 

It  would  be  wrong  towards  my  son  Ludwig,  if  I  were  to 
mix  other  feelings  with  joy  at  his  return  ;  and  it  is  also  wrong 
towards  myself  not  to  permit  a  single  pleasure  to  be  with- 
out alloy. 

My  spirits  were,  however,  not  a  little  checked  on  my  be- 
ing reminded  of.  Ernst.  Every  nerve  in  me  trembled,  so 
that  I  began  to  believe  that  I  would  not  be  able  to  survive 
the  hour  in  which  I  should  again  see  Ludwig.  But  now  the 
sad  thought  that  had  floated  across  my  mental  horizon 
soothed  my  excited  nerves. 

Ludwig  had  sent  me  his  photograph  from  Paris,  in  order 
that  I  might  recognize  him  at  once. 

He  had  placed  the  pictures  of  his  wife  and  of  his  son  in 
the  same  package. 

I  read  over  his  last  two  letters  again. 

In  a  letter  from  Paris,  dated  Sunday,  April  24th,  he 
wrote  : 

"Here  I  am  in  the  midst  of  the  hubbub  in  which  the 
*  saviour  of  the  world '  is  permitting  the  people  to  vote.  It 

*  Feast  commemorative  of  the  dedication  of  a  church. 


234 


WALDFRIED. 


is  truly  a  demoniac  art,  this  power  of  counterfeiting  the  last 
word  of  truthfulness.  In  order  that  nothing  may  remain 
uncorrupted,  the  ministers  declare  that  the  question  of  the 
day  is  to  secure  tranquillity  to  the  land  for  the  future,  so 
that,  both  on  the  throne  and  in  the  cottage,  the  son  may 
peacefully  succeed  his  father.  The  last  lingering  traces  of 
modesty  and  purity  are  being  destroyed ;  the  last  remnant 
of  piety  is  appealed  to  in  order  to  carry  out  the  deceit. 

"  How  glad  I  should  be,  on  the  other  hand,  to  bathe  my 
soul  in  the  pure  waves  of  great  harmonies.  The  thought 
that  I  shall  enter  my  Fatherland  in  time  to  assist  in  celebrat- 
ing the  Centennary  of  Beethoven's  birth  is  an  inspiring  and 
an  impressive  one  to  me." 

Joseph  was  at  Bonn,  awaiting  the  expected  guests.  He 
was  again  successful  in  combining  high  objects  with  business 
profits  ;  he  concluded  a  contract  to  build  the  festival  building 
out  of  trees  from  the  Black  Forest. 

I  looked  at  Ludwig's  picture,  and  it  seemed  to  me,  indeed, 
as  if  I  were  looking  at  my  father  in  his  youth.  All  genera- 
tions seemed  to  be  combined  in  one,  as  if  there  were  no 
such  thing  as  time. 

Martella  came  into  the  room,  dressed  in  her  Sunday  attire. 

"Good-morning,  father,"  said  she.  "To-day  you  will 
hear  somebody  else  say,  '  Good-morning,  father.'  " 

I  could  not  help  wondering  how  Martella  would  appear  to 
Ludwig.  She  seemed  new  to  me.  It  seemed  as  if  during 
the  four  years  that  she  had  been  with  .us  she  had  become 
taller  and  more  slender.  She  wore  the  pearl-colored  silk 
dress  that  had  been  my  wife's,  and  had  about  her  throat  the 
red  coral  necklace  that  Bertha  had  sent  her.  Her  unman- 
ageable brown  hair  was  arranged  in  the  form  of  a  coronet  ; 
and  her  walk  and  carriage  were  full  of  grace  and  refinement. 
Her  face  seemed  lengthened,  instead  of  being  as  round  as  it 


WALDFRIED. 


235 


had  once  been ;  and  her  old  defiant  expression  had  given 
way  to  one  of  gentleness.  Indeed,  since  the  death  of  Gus- 
tava,  a  certain  look  of  pain  seemed  to  have  impressed  itself 
on  her  features,  her  large  eyes  had  become  more  lustrous, 
and  seemed  full  of  unsatisfied  longing. 

Johanna  and  her  daughter  had  also  arrayed  themselves  in 
their  best  clothes ;  at  least,  as  far  as  that  was  possible  with 
Johanna,  for,  since  the  death  of  her  husband,  she  had  always 
worn  mourning. 

I  rode  off  in  the  chaise  with  Rothfuss ;  Julius,  with  Johanna 
and  her  daughter,  followed  us. 

Martella  remained  in  the  house  with  Carl ;  and  the  school- 
master's wife  had  come  to  assist  in  baking  and  cooking. 

When  we  reached  the  saw-mill,  the  miller  said,  "  I  have 
heard  the  news  already — this  is  Ludvvig's  day." 

We  drove  on,  and  after  a  while  Rothfuss  said,  "  It  seems 
to  me  that  the  trees  are  stretching  and  straightening  them- 
selves in  order  to  appear  at  their  best  when  our  Ludwig  goes 
by." 

When  we  arrived  at  the  top  of  the  last  hill,  Gaudens,  who 
was  breaking  stones  on  the  road,  said :  "  Ludwig  will  have 
to  own  that  the  roads  are  not  kept  better  in  America  than 
here."  It  was  strange  how  the  news  of  his  return  had  been 
noised  about. 

At  the  last  village  before  reaching  the  station,  Funk  came 
out  of  the  tavern  and  called  out,  "  Rothfuss  !  Stop  !  " 

Rothfuss  turned  towards  me  with  an  inquiring  look,  and  I 
told  him  to  stop. 

Funk  now  informed  me  that  he  had  succeeded  in  induc- 
ing the  members  of  Lud wig's  party  to  refrain  from  receiving 
him  at  the  railroad  station  with  a  festive  procession.  He  did 
not  wish  to  interfere  with  the  family  festivities ;  but  on  the 
following  Sunday,  the  friends  of  freedom  would  take  the 


236 


WALDFKIED. 


liberty  of  greeting  Ludwig  as  one  who  belonged  to  man 
kind. 

I  could  only  reply  that  I  could  decide  nothing  for  my  son, 
— that  he  was  free  and  would  act  for  himself. 

Funk  went  back  into  the  tavern.  We  drove  on.  Roth- 
fuss  remarked,  "  That  fellow  is  like  a  salamander ;  when  he 
tries  to  climb  a  rock  and  falls  on  his  back,  he  turns  about 
and  is  on  his  feet  again  quicker  than  thought." 

We  were  much  too  early  when  we  got  into  town,  and  I 
walked  about  the  streets  as  if  I  had  never  been  there  be- 
fore, and  as  if  there  were  nowhere  a  chair  on  which  one 
might  rest. 

It  suddenly  occurred  to  me  that  I  ought  to  have  sent  my 
picture  to  Ludwig,  so  that  he  might  know  me ;  I  had  grown 
a  full  beard  since  his  departure,  and  it  would  grieve  me  if  he 
did  not  at  once  recognize  me. 

I  decided  at  once.  There  was  yet  time  enough  to  have 
my  beard  removed;  and  when  I  returned,  Johanna  and 
Rothfuss  were  greatly. astonished  by  the  change  in  my  ap- 
pearance. But  I  did  not  tell  them  my  reason  for  removing 
my  beard. 

I  had  a  presentiment  that  Ludwig  would  bring  Ernst  with 
him.  I  note  this  down,  because  we  frequently  speak  of  ful- 
filled presentiments,  but  never  of  those  which  are  not  ful- 
filled. 

At  the  depot,  there  were  numbers  of  emigrants  who  were 
about  to  leave  the  valley.  I  knew  many  of  them,  and  they 
guessed  at  my  innermost  thought ;  for  now  one,  and  then 
another,  would  come  to  me  and  say,  "  If  I  learn  anything 
about  Ernst,  I.  will  write  to  you  immediately." 

The  locksmith's  widow  was  there,  with  her  three  children. 
The  children  had  bouquets  in  their  hands,  and  I  begged  them 
to  stand  aside  until  the  first  meeting  was  over. 


WALDFRIED. 


237 


A  young  slone-cutter  who  lived  'at  a  village  in  our  neigh- 
borhood,  and  was  employed  in  the  shops  at  the  depot, 
greeted  the  locksmith's  widow  in  the  most  friendly  manner. 
He  held  her  hand  in  his  for  some  time,  and  she  seemed 
pleased  thereat.  How  strange  that  at  such  moments  one 
can  see  more  than  is  transpiring  about  him!  It  suddenly 
occured  to  me,  "Who  knows — they  may  yet  be  a  couple." 

The  Inspector  invited  me  to  his  dwelling ;  I  accompanied 
him.  A  short  time  afterward,  he  returned  and  told  me  that 
the  train  had  been  signalled.  He  led  me  down  the  steps 
and  remained  at  my  side.  Now  we  hear  the  whistle ; — 
now  the  train  is  coming  round  the  curve ;  now  it  is  slack- 
ing its  speed.  No  one  is  beckoning  to  me  from  the  car 
windows.  Can  he  have  failed  to  come  ?  Many  passengers 
alight ;  but  I  see  no  sign  of  my  son. 

Suddenly  a  guard  calls  out  to  me,  "  Herr  Waldfried,  you 
are  to  come  this  way  ! "  He  opens  the  door  of  the  car  and 
I  arn  lifted  up  into  it. 

I  hear  a  voice  exclaim,  "  Father  !  "  and  I  know  nothing  of 
what  happened  for  some  time  afterward. 

"Grandfather,  give  me  your  hand,"  says  another  voice. 
But,  before  that,  I  am  embraced  by  a  lovely  woman,  who 
sheds  tears  of  joy. 

Leading  my  son  with  my  right  hand  and  my  grandson 
with  the  left,  I  walked  out  as  if  marching  in  triumph.  My 
daughter-in-law  was  escorted  by  Johanna  and  her  daughter. 

Suddenly  Ludwig  dropped  my  hand  and  called  out, 
"  You  here,  Ernst  ?  " 

"  I  am  not  your  brother  Ernst ;  I  am  Julius,  the  son  of 
your  sister  Martina." 

"  Where  is  Rothfuss  ?  "  inquired  Joseph,  who  had  also 
come  on  the  train  with  Ludwig. 

I  had  already  seen  him.     He  stood  aside,  lighting  one 


WALDFRIED. 

match  after  another,  and  seemed  to  be  waiting  for  Ludwig 
to  come  to  him  to  get  a  light  for  his  cigar. 

At  last  he  threw  the  match  away  and  called  out,  "  Hur- 
rah !  Shout  till  you  burst  your  throats  ! " 

They  all  shouted  "hurrah,"  and  when  Ludwig  and  his  son 
had  shaken  hands  with  Rothfuss,  and  the  wife  had  taken  him 
by  the  hand,  Rothfuss  said,  "  She  has  a  firm  hand ;  you  have 
done  this  thing  well,  Ludwig." 

A  middle-aged  man,  erect  in  figure,  and  with  a  red  mus- 
tache, was  looking  after  Lud wig's  luggage.  Ludwig  now 
called  to  him,  "Willem,  just  leave  those  things  and  come 
here.  Here,  Rothfuss,  let  me  recommend  to  you  my 
servant  and  friend,  Willem.  Shake  hands  with  each  other, 
and  be  good  friends." 

Rothfuss  extended  his  hand,  and  asked,  with  an  air  of 
doubt : 

"  He  speaks  German,  of  course — does  he  not  ?  " 

"  Yours  to  command ;  I  know  nothing  else." 

It  was  on  a  Saturday,  and  the  Jews  of  the  little  town  were 
accustomed  on  that  day  to  loiter  about  the  station.  We 
were  just  about  to  leave,  when  the  Jewish  teacher  came  up 
to  me  and  said,  "  Herr  Waldfried,  the  verse  in  the  Bible 
which  tells  of  Jacob  again  seeing  his  son  Joseph,  applies  to 
you.  It  says,  '  And  Israel  said  unto  Joseph,  Now  let  me 
die,  since  I  .have  seen  thy  face,  because  thou  art  yet  alive.'  " 
The  words  of  the  little  old  man  did  me  much  good. 


CHAPTER  V. 

FUNK  had  been  unable  to  deny  himself  the  pleasure 
of  being  on  hand. 

When  we  passed  the  garden  of  the  "Wild  Man  "  tavern  he 
stood  at  the  fence,  surrounded  by  several  of  his  companions. 
They  lifted  their  foaming  beer-glasses  on  high,  and  cried, 
"  Long  live  Ludvvig,  the  republican  ! "  Ludwig  merely 
nodded  his  thanks,  and  then  said  to  me  : 

"  Father,  let  us  get  in  and  ride  home." 

The  carriages  were  awaiting  us. 

I  wanted  my  daughter-in-law  to  sit  with  me,  but  she  in- 
sisted that  Ludwig  and  Wolfgang  should  do  so,  while  she 
joined  Johanna  and  the  rest  of  the  party. 

Rothfuss,  who  at  other  times  took  so  great  a  pleasure  in 
cracking  his  whip,  now  sounded  it  but  lightly. 

"  Rothfuss,  how  long  have  you  been  with  us  ? "  asked 
Ludwig. 

"Longer  than  you  have  been  in  this  world,"  was  the 
answer. 

My  grandson,  Wolfgang,  laughed  out  loud,  and  told  us 
that  his  father  had  prophesied  that  very  answer. 

As  we  drove  through  the  village,  every  one  came  to  the 
windows  to  greet  us. 

We  were  passing  the  house  of  the  kreis-director.  The 
family  were  seated  in  the  garden,  and  we  were  obliged  to 
stop  with  them  for  a  little  while.  The  roses  were  lovely,  and 
the  faces  of  our  friends  were  bright  with  kindness. 

The  husband,  the  wife,  and  the  daughters  welcomed  the 


240  WALDFRIED. 

new-comers  most  cordially,  and  the  \\ife  handed  my 
daughter-in-law  a  bouquet  of  roses. 

Their  son  was  also  present.  He  had  become  a  lieuten- 
ant, and  his  countenance  seemed  to  combine  the  clear,. 
bright  expression  of  the  mother,  with  the  sternness  of  the 
father. 

Julius  and  Martha  were  standing  a  little  way  off,  beside  a 
blooming  rose-bush,  and  when  I  said  to  Ludwig,  "  Behold 
your  future  niece,"  they  were  both  so  suffused  with  blushes, 
that  they  resembled  the  roses.  My  daughter-in-law  embraced 
Martha,  and  was  afterward  embraced  by  the  Privy  Council- 
lor's wife. 

Ludwig  urged  our  departure  for  home,  and  the  charming 
woman  thanked  us  heartily  for  the  short  visit  we  had  paid 
her.  In  the  meantime,  Rontheim  had  opened  a  bottle  of 
wine  and  filled  our  glasses. 

Our  glasses  clinked  ;  we  emptied  them,  and  started  on 
our  way  ;  and  Rothfuss  said,  "  The  Privy  Councillor  did  the 
right  thing  in  pouring  out  some  wine  ;  eating  and  drinking  is 
the  best  half  of  nourishment."  Ludwig  laughed  heartily. 

Ludwig  held  me  by  the  hand  while  we  drove  along  the 
valley  road. 

"  The  houses  have  been  rebuilt,"  he  said,  pointing  to- 
wards the  right  bank  of  the  stream.  It  was  there  that,  dur- 
ing the  uprising  of  1848,  he  had  been  in  command,  and 
where  the  houses  had  been  burned  to  the  ground. 

"  We  have  him  in  a  sack  ;  if  we  could  only  keep  him 
there  for  ourselves  for  a  couple  of  weeks,"  called  out  Roth- 
fuss. 

My  grandson  did  not  understand  him,  and  I  was  obliged 
to  explain  how  Rothfuss  always  managed  to  catch  my  very 
thought. 

I  had  wished  to  be  able  to  have  Ludwig's  society  for  my- 


WALDFRIED.  241 

self,  and  to  give  no  one  a  part  of  him,  except  of  course  his 
brothers  and  sisters.  From  a  few  remarks  of  Ludwig's,  I 
gathered  that  he  was  aware  of  my  thoughts,  and  the  first 
thing  he  said  to  me  was  a  text  for  all  that  followed. 

"  I  have  not  forgotten  mother's  saying,  and  it  has  often 
been  a  guide  for  me  :  '  We  have  part  in  the  world,  and  the 
world  ought  to  have  part  in  us.'  " 

It  seemed  to  me  that  Rothfuss  was  laughing  to  himself. 
I  had  been  mistaken,  however,  for  Wolfgang,  who  was  seated 
on  the  box  with  Rothfuss,  now  called  out,  "  Father,  Roth- 
fuss  is  crying ! " 

"  Is  there  anything  that  such  an  American  wouldn't  no- 
tice ? "  replied  Rothfuss,  sitting  upright  on  the  box,  and 
cracking  his  whip  with  all  his  might. 

"  And  so  the  new  road  through  the  valley  is  finished,"  said 
Ludwig;  "I  suppose  Antonin  built  that.  It  would  have 
been  better,  though,  if  they  had  carried  it  along  the  other 
bank." 

The  new  road  had,  however,  only  been  laid  out  as  far  as 
the  boundary  line  ;  from  there  unto  my  dwelling,  which  was 
fully  two  hours  distant,  there  was  only  the  old  road,  which 
was  in  a  horrible  condition. 

"  Father,"  exclaimed  Wolfgang,  "  here  are  the  boundary 
posts  that  you  told  me  of." 

"Yes,"  said  Ludwig;  "  this  is  yet  old  Germany.  Here, 
there  is  still  separation." 

I  believe  that  I  have  not  yet  mentioned  that  I  live  near 
the  border.  Our  village  is  the  last  point  in  our  territory, 
and  further  down  the  valley  is  the  beginning  of  the  neighbor- 
ing principality. 

How  strange !     There  was  so  much  that  we  wished  to 
speak  of  to  one  another,  and  the  first  subject  of  conveisation 
was  the  laying  out  of  the  new  road. 
16 


242 


WALDFRIED. 


And  it  is  well  that  it  is  so ;  for  this  helps  one  over  the 
heart-throbs  that  otherwise  would  be  almost  insupportable. 

Ludwig  had  mentioned  mother,  and  for  the  present  she 
was  not  referred  to  again. 

He  had  a  quick  glance,  and  always  thought  of  what  might 
benefit  the  community  ;  and  when  Wolfgang  expressed  his 
delight  at  the  wild,  rushing  valley  stream,  Ludwig  said  to 
me,  "  That  stream  could  do  much  more  work.  There  is  a 
fortune  floating  there,  thrown  into  the  water,  as  it  were,  and 
flowing  away  from  our  valley  out  into  the  ocean." 

"To  whom  does  water-power  belong?"  inquired  Wolf- 
gang- 

We  gave  him  the  desired  information,  and  this  question 
was  a  happy  proof  of  his  active,  inquiring  mind. 

"  Over  yonder,"  said  Rothfuss,  "  there  is  a  miller  who  has 
his  water-power  direct  from  the  heavens."  He  pointed 
to  the  house  of  the  so-called  "  thunder  miller,"  who  had 
built  his  mill  in  such  a  way  that  its  wheel  would  only  go  after 
there  had  been  a  storm. 

The  ground  for  some  distance  before  we  reached  the  tun- 
nel, was  covered  with  cherry-trees  with  straight  trunks,  the 
branches  of  which  looked  like  a  well-arranged  bouquet ;  and 
on  the  heights  were  the  beech-trees  with  their  red  buds,  and 
one  could  follow  the  gradual  development  of  the  foliage. 

"  Look,  Wolfgang,"  said  Ludwig,  "  you  can  see  here  how 
spring  gradually  climbs  up  the  mountain  side." 

"  Father,"  exclaimed  Wolfgang,  "  the  people  in  the  fields 
are  all  looking  up  at  us." 

"  They  all  know  grandfather,"  replied  Ludwig ;  and,  turn^ 
ing  to  me,  he  explained  :  "  It  seems  strange  to  the  boy, 
for  the  American  never  looks  up  from  his  work,  even  if 
seven  trains  of  cars  rush  by  within  ten  paces  of  him." 

At  the  boundary  line,  Gaudens  greeted  us. 


WALDFRIED.  243 

We  halted  there  for  a  while.  He  came  up  to  the  carriage, 
stretched  out  his  hand,  and  exclaimed,  "  Do  you  know  me 
yet  ?  " 

"  Certainly  I  do  ;  you  are  Gaudens." 

"Yes,  it  is  easy  to  find  me  ;  from  here  around  the  corner, 
down  to  the  Maiengrund  is  my  district.  I  was  in  the  rev- 
olution too,  but  I  lied  my  way  out.  Yes,  Luclwig,  you  have 
wandered  about  a  great  deal  in  the  wide  world.  It  is  best 
at  home,  after  all ;  isn't  it  ?  Is  this  your  son  ?  " 

"  It  is." 

"  God  bless  him.  And  what  a  splendid  wife  you  have  ! — 
What  a  pity  about  Ernst ;  he  has  such  a  good  heart  and  is 
such  a  sensible  fellow,  and  yet  commits  such  wicked  and 
foolish  tricks.  All  I  wish  for  is  to  have  a  place  where  I 
might  have  some  little  extra  profits  from  fruit  and  grass  by 
the  road  ;  nothing  ripens  here  but  pine  cones." 

When  Wolfgang  shook  hands  with  him  at  parting,  he  said, 
"  He  has  a  soft  hand  ;  he  cannot  swing  the  pickaxe  as  you 
did  when  you  were  building  your  first  road." 

"  How  lovely  it  is  here,"  said  Wolfgang.  "  Here  you  know 
every  one,  and  every  one  knows  you ;  you  cannot  meet  a 
stranger." 

He  was  right ;  it  is  so ;  and  this  makes  a  full  life,  but  a 
a  hard  one  too. 

We  left  the  forester's  house,  where  the  forester's  pretty 
wife,  holding  a  child  on  her  arm,  greeted  us.  Our  way  lay 
along  the  crest  of  the  mountain,  and  looked  down  into  the 
valley,  where  the  haystacks  were  scattered  about  the 
meadow,  in  the  hollow,  and  along  the  hillside.  Ludwig 
said  : 

"Whenever  I  thought  of  home,  this  view  of  the  valley  al- 
ways came  back  to  me.  I  was  walking  here  once  with 
Ernst,  while  he  was  yet  quite  a  little  fellow,  and  he  said  to 


244 


WALDFRIED. 


me,  *  Lud\vig,  look  at  the  haystacks.  Don't  they  look  like 
a  scattered  herd  of  cows  on  the  meadow  ? '  " 

He  must  have  noticed  that  his  allusion  to  Ernst  had  agi- 
tated me,  and  he  added,  "  Father,  we  must  be  strong 
enough  to  think  calmly  of  the  dead  and  of  the  lost  ones." 

When  we  passed  the  woods  that  belonged  to  Uncle  Lin- 
ker and  me,  Ludwig  was  delighted  to  find  how  nicely  they 
had  been  kept. 

He  then  inquired  about  Martella,  and  when  I  said  that 
she  had  a  strange  aversion  to  America,  and  disliked  to  hear 
it  mentioned,  he  replied  : 

"  Do  you  not  believe,  father,  that  she  has  an  unexplained, 
and  perhaps  sad,  past,  which  is  in  some  way  associated 
with  America  ? "  I  was  startled  ; — the  case  seemed  to 
present  new  and  puzzling  difficulties. 

Ludwig  was  pleased  with  the  meadow-valley  where  he 
had  arranged  the  trench  with  sluices.  In  very  good  seasons, 
there  were  four  crops ;  but  one  was  always  sure  of  at  least 
three.  The  value  of  the  meadow-farmer's  property  had  in 
this  way  been  doubled. 

Down  by  the  saw-mill,  we  met  Carl,  who  was  just  using  the 
windlass  to  drag  a  large  beam  from  the  wagon. 

He  turned  around  as  we  approached  and  saluted  us,  and 
Lud wig's  wife  said,  "What  a  handsome  fellow  !  He  is  just 
as  I  have  imagined  all  your  countrymen  to  be." 

We  alighted,  and  walked  up  the  hill  and  on  towards  the 
village. 

When  Ludwig  saw  the  churchyard,  he  removed  his  hat 
from  his  head,  remained  standing  for  a  moment  in  silence, 
and  then  walked  on  briskly. 

At  the  steps  of  the  house  he  extended  his  hand  to  his 
wife  and  said,  "  Welcome  to  the  house  of  my  parents  1 " 


WALDFRIED.  24$ 

Martella  was  standing  on  the  piazza :  she  stood  there 
immovable,  holding  herself  by  the  railing. 

"  That  pretty  girl  there,  with  large  staring  eyes,  is  Ernst's 
betrothed,  I  presume  ?  "  said  Ludwig. 

I  said,  "Yes." 

We  went  up  the  steps  and  entered  the  room.  Without 
speaking  a  word,  Martella  offered  her  hand  to  every  one  of 
the  new  arrivals.  She  seemed  absent  minded  and  was 
silent. 

My  daughter-in-law  and  Wolfgang  were  surprised  to  find 
that  we  still  had  fires  in  our  stoves. 

A  little  pleasantry  at  once  made  us  all  feel  at  home  with 
one  another.  I  told  my  new  daughter-in-law  how  happily  I 
had  lived  with  my  wife,  but  that  even  we  had  been  obliged 
to  adapt  ourselves  to  each  other's  ways. 

From  the  earliest  days  in  autumn  until  far  into  the  sum- 
mer, it  had  been  our  custom  to  have  our  sitting-room  heated 
every  morning  and  evening.  At  first  it  went  hard  with  me, 
but  after  a  while  we  accustomed  ourselves  to  the  same  outer 
temperature,  and  the  nicely  warmed  room  at  last  became  a 
great  comfort  to  me,  whenever  I  returned  from  the  fields. 

"  I  understand  perfectly,  and  thank  you  for  telling  me  of 
mother  first  of  all,"  said  my  daughter-in-law. 

Martella  remained  silent  and  reserved  towards  the  new- 
comers, and,  for  the  rest  of  the  evening,  we  did  not  see  her 
again.  She  remained  in  the  kitchen  and  instructed  one  of 
the  servants  to  serve  the  meal.  With  the  help  of  the  school- 
master's wife  she  had  prepared  us  a  fine  feast. 

Wolfgang  suddenly  asked  to  see  the  family  woods,  and  as 
it  was  still  broad  daylight,  Ludwig  took  him  out  to  gratify 
his  curiosity. 

I  was  left  alone  with  my  daughter-in-law,  and  when  I 
conducted  her  through  the  house  and  showed  her,  above  all 


246 


WALDFRIED. 


things,  the  apartment  with  the  plaster  casts,  her  pure  and 
tranquil  nature  became  revealed  to  me  for  the  first  time. 

When  Ludwig  returned,  he  expressed  great  pleasure  with 
the  fountain  that  mother  had  ordered  to  be  repaired  at  the 
time  the  new  forest  path  was  laid  out.  He  promised  to  send 
to  the  iron  foundry  at  once,  and  order  a  pretty  column  with 
a  pipe  through  it. 

"  Mother  inspired  me  with  an  affection  for  this  spring," 
said  he.  "While  building  the  aqueduct,  I  thought  of  her 
almost  every  day ;  and  along  the  space  where  the  pipes  were 
running  under  ground,  I  planted  pines,  in  order  that  pretty 
woods  might  grow  there,  and  the  temperature  of  the  water 
always  remain  the  same.  Of  all  the  great  and  impressive 
things  I  beheld  in  America,  one  little  monument  impressed 
me  most  of  all ;  it  was  that  to  Fredrick  Graff,  who  built  the 
waterworks  of  Philadelphia." 

Night  approached.  We  were  seated  in  the  arbor,  and 
Wolfgang  exclaimed,  "  The  stars  shine  more  brightly  here 
than  elsewhere." 

"  The  dark  woods  make  it  appear  so,"  said  Ludwig.  And 
just  over  the  family  woods,  seeming  to  touch  the  tops  of  the 
trees  as  if  fixed  there,  a  star  glistened  and  shone  with  a 
brightness  that  was  marvellous  even  to  me. 

Ludwig  conducted  himself  with  great  self-control  and 
moderation.  He  spoke  slowly  and  in  a  low  voice,  in  order 
to  keep  down  all  agitation. 

Long  after  the  new-comers  had  retired  to  rest,  Rothfuss 
and  I  were  still  sitting  in  front  of  the  house. 

Rothfuss  could  not  come  to  an  understanding  with  him- 
self. He  said,  "  Our  Ludwig  is  still  the  same,  and  .is  changed 
for  all ;  he  has  not  grown,  and  yet  he  is  larger." 

He  told  me  that  Ludwig  had  come  out  into  the  stable  to 
him,  and  when  he  had  told  Ludwig  that  the  sorrel  horse  was 


WALDFR1ED. 


247 


the  son  of  our  gray  stud,  he  had  taken  the  horse  firmly  by 
the  mane  and  said,  "  Rothfuss,  you  have  been  faithful  to  my 
father  ;  I  cannot  fully  recompense  you  for  it,  but  express  a 
wish  and  I  will  do  what  I  can  for  you." 

Rothfuss  had  heard  no  more  of  what  was  said. 

He  could  not  help  crying  like  a  child ;  and  now  he  would 
like  to  know  what  he  ought  to  wish  for.  He  said  that  he 
wanted  no  one  to  advise  him ;  he  must  find  it  out  himself. 
For  a  long  while,  neither  of  us  spoke  a  word.  There  was 
not  a  sound  to  be  heard,  save  the  bubbling  of  the  fountain 
in  front  of  the  house. 

I  retired  to  my  room,  but  could  find  no  rest,  and  sat  by 
the  window  for  a  long  while. 

It  seemed  to  me  as  if  an  invisible  and  inaudible  spirit  was 
wandering  through  the  house  and  bestowing  upon  it  peace 
and  quiet,  above  all  other  spots  upon  this  earth. 

Just  then  the  watchman  called  the  hour  of  midnight ;  the 
window  of  Ludwig*s  chamber  opened,  and  Ludwig  called 
out,  "  Tobias,  come  and  see  me  to-morrow  :.  I  have  some- 
thing for  you." 

"  Are  you  still  awake  ?  "  cried  I. 

"  Yes,  father ;  and  when  I  heard  the  watchman  I  knew 
for  sure  that  I  am  at  home.  Now  I  understand  the  proverb, 
'He  who  does  not  wander,  does  not  return.1  It  is  only 
among  strangers  that  one  learns  to  appreciate  his  home. 

"  But  now  go  to  sleep.     Good-night,  father." 


CHAPTER   VI. 

Herr  Professor  has  arrived,"  were  the  words  with 
which  Martella  greeted  me  early  the  next  morning. 
I  must  observe  that  Martella  now  always  spoke  of  Richard 
as  "  Herr  Profeosor."  The  meeting  of  the  brothers  was  a 
most  affectionate  one. 

Lud\vig's  wife  and  Richard  were  friends  at  once.     She  in- 
troduced herself  to  him  as  the  daughter  of  a  professor,  and 
Richard's  impressive  manner  seemed  to  please  her  greatly. 
Wolfgang  was  greatly  moved,  and  whispered  to  me : 
"  I   can    now   for    the    first    time,   say   the  best  words : 
'grandfather,'  'uncle; '  and" — turning  quickly  to  Johanna — 
'aunt;'  to  Julius  I  have  already  said  'cousin,'  and  I  shall 
soon  have  more  cousins." 

The  brothers  were  soon  involved  in  a  most  zealous  dis- 
cussion of  the  great  questions  of  the  day.  Richard  warned 
Ludwig  against  permitting  the  demagogues  to  make  use 
of  him,  as  their  only  aim  was  to  foment  disturbance,  and  to 
abuse  all  existing  institutions.  They  were  wholly  without 
lofty  or  honest  aims  of  their  own.  When  he  warned  him 
to  be  on  his  guard  and  not  to  permit  this  or  that  one  to  in- 
fluence his  views  of  affairs  in  the  Fatherland,  Ludwig  replied  : 
"  Wi'li  your  permission,  I  shall  begin  with  you." 
Richard  observed  that,  just  as  time  helps  to  correct  our 
judgments,  in  regard  to  past  events,  so  does  distance  aid  us 
in  criticising  contemporary  history.  It  may  take  ten  years 
before  we  can  see  the  Europe  of  the  present  in  the  light 


WALDFRIED. 


249 


in  which  it  appears  to  the  unprejudiced  American  of  to-day; 
and  when  he  asked  Ludvvig  whether  we  might  not  cherish  the 
hope  that  he  would  now  remain  in  the  old  world,  Ludwig 
answered  that,  with  all  his  love  of  home,  he  did  not  believe 
he  would  be  able  to  give  up  the  perfect  independence  of 
American  life. 

"  And  what  do  you  think  on  the  subject,  my  dear  sister- 
in-law  ?" 

"  I  am  of  the  same  opinion  as  my  husband." 

Richard  expressed  a  wish  that  Ludwig  might,  at  some  fu- 
ture day,  take  charge  of  the  family  estate,  as  there  was  no 
one  else  who  could  do  it.  It  seemed  to  me,  indeed,  that,  in 
all  that  he  said,  Richard  was  trying  to  determine  Ludwig  to 
unite  his  fortunes  with  those  of  the  Fatherland. 

Ludwig,  who  had  come  by  way  of  France,  could  tell  us 
much  of  the  great  excitement  that  had  been  produced  there 
by  the  plebiscite. 

The  brothers  were  agreed  that  the  expression  of  the  pop- 
ular will  had  been  accompanied  by  fearful  deceit  on  the 
part  of  the  authorities  ;  but  they  did  not  agree  as  to  the  ob- 
ject contemplated  by  that  deceit. 

"  I  was  often  obliged,"  said  Ludwig,  "  to  think  of  our  old 
schoolmaster,  who  explained  the  philosophic  beauty  of  the 
Latin  language  to  us  by  the  fact  that  rolo  has  no  impera- 
tive; but  the  author  of  the  'Life  of  Caesar'  has  shown  us, 
by  means  of  ti\z  plebiscite,  that  volo  has  an  imperative." 

Ludwig  asserted  that  the  majority  of  educated  French- 
men hated  and  despised  Napoleon ;  for  all  the  large  cities, 
with  the  exception  of  Strasburg,  which  gave  a  small  major- 
ity on  the  other  side,  had  voted  no.  At  the  same  time, 
what  they  hated  and  despised  in  him  was  just  what  they 
themselves  were  ;  for  every  individual  Frenchman  really  de- 
sires to  be  a  Napoleon ;  and  the  no  that  a  portion  of  the 


WALDFRIED. 

army  had  voted,  simply  meant,  "  We  want  war."  Napoleon 
had  undermined  every  sense  of  duty,  and  the  misfortune 
of  France  was  that  no  one  there  believed  in  the  honesty  or 
the  unselfishness  of  another  creature. 

"  I  have  also  made  the  acquaintance  of  French  emigrants 
in  America.  It  is,  of  course,  unfair  to  judge  of  a  nation  by 
its  emigrants  ;  but  I  could  not  help  being  struck  by  the  fact 
that  those  whom  I  met  had  no  confidence  in  any  one." 

Richard,  on  the  other  hand,  had  a  very  good  opinion  of 
the  French.  He  told  us  that  about  the  time  he  was  working 
in  the  library  at  Paris,  he  had  travelled  much  through  France, 
and  had  made  the  acquaintance  of  Frenchmen  of  every 
station  in  life. 

"  The  French  are  industrious  and  temperate,  and  a  people 
of  whom  that  can  be  said,  has  a  noble  destiny  awaiting  it. 
They  have  a  great  desire  to  please,  which  makes  them  agree- 
able, and  gives  all  their  work  the  impress  of  good  taste. 
They  are  fond  of  all  that  partakes  of  the  decorative,  whether 
it  be  a  glittering  phrase  or  a  badge.  If  that  which,  from  its 
very  nature,  ought  to  be  general,  could  gain  distinction  for 
them — if  there  could  be  an  aristocracy  in  republican  virtue,  • 
I  cannot  help  believing  that  the  Frenchmen  would  be  un- 
bending republicans." 

"Yes,"  said  Ludwig;  "and  they  are  humane,  also.  The 
vain  and  conceited  man  is  usually  generous  and  communica- 
tive :  he  thinks  he  has  so  many  advantages  that  he  is  glad  to 
bestow  a  share  on  others,  and  is  annoyed  and  almost  angry  if 
they  do  not  care  to  accept  his  bounty;  for  ie  considers 
their  declining  it  as  a  want  of  belief  in  his  superiority,  and 
is  surprised  to  find  that  others  do  not  hunger  and  thirst  for 
the  things  that  he  regards  as  delicacies." 

The  brothers  became  involved  in  all  sorts  of  discussions, 
and,  although  Richard  was  the  younger  of  the  two,  he 


WALDFRIED. 


251 


showed,  in  a  certain  patronizing  way,  how  pleased  he  was  to 
find  that  the  school  of  experience  had  moderated  Ludwig's 
views.  For  the  brothers  agreed  on  one  point — that,  as  there 
was  no  one  church  which  could  alone  save  mankind,  so  there 
was  no  one  form  of  government  which  could  alone  make  all 
men  free.  After  all,  everything  depended  on  the  honesty 
and  the  morality  of  the  citizen,  and,  for  that  reason,  it  could 
not  be  maintained  that  the  republican  form  of  government 
was  a  guarantee  of  freedom,  or  that  a  monarchy  necessarily 
implied  a  condition  of  servitude. 

The  brothers  now  understood  each  other  better  than  they 
had  done  in  former  times. 

Richard  always  occupied  himself  with  general  principles, 
while  I  can  only  interest  myself  in  particulars.  The  first 
question  that  I  ask  myself  is,  How  does  the  rule  apply  to 
this  or  that  one  ?  Richard  is  different.  He  has  no  eye  for 
isolated  cases,  but  a  far-seeing  glance  where  general  prin- 
ciples are  concerned.  He  looks  upon  everything  from  a 
certain  lofty  historical  point  of  view.  He  regards  the  hilly 
region  in  which  we  live  with  the  eye  of  an  artist  and  a 
scientist,  noticing  the  elevations  and  the  depressions,  without 
giving  a  thought  to  the  people  who  dwell  among  them.  He 
does  not  see  the  villages,  much  less  a  single  villager. 

My  experience  with  Richard  solved  a  question  which  had 
always  been  a  riddle  to  me.  He  has  no  love  for  the  people, 
and  is,  nevertheless,  an  advocate  of  liberty.  Until  now,  I 
could  not  understand  how  it  was  possible ;  now  it  is  clear 
to  me. 

Advocites  of  liberty  are  of  two  classes.  The  one  class 
ask  for  it  as  a  logical  necessity ;  the  other  are  disappointed 
when  the  people,  or  portions  thereof,  become  obstinate  or 
prove  themselves  unworthy  of  freedom.  The  former  have 
nothing  to  do  with  mankind,  but  simply  busy  themselves 


252 


WALDFR1ED. 


with  the  idea  of  liberty,  and  are,  for  that  reason,  more  posi 
tive  and  exacting  and  less  given  to  fine  talk. 

Formerly,  Richard  had  been  dissatisfied  with  all  of  Lud- 
wig's  actions  and  opinions.  He  was  opposed  to  all  that  was 
violent ;  but  now  Richard  had  become  the  more  liberal, 
and  Ludwig  the  more  conservative,  of  the  two.  It  was  in 
America,  where  the  tendency  seemed  towards  a  loosening  of 
all  restraint,  that  Ludwig  had  for  the  first  time  learned  to  at- 
tach importance  to  the  preservation  of  established  institu- 
tions. While  they  were  yet  children  under  the  instructions 
of  Pastor  Genser,  who  afterward  became  my  son-in-law,  the 
two  boys  had  given  much  of  their  time  to  music.  To  listen 
to  Richard  playing  the  violincello  and  Ludwig  playing  the 
piano,  was  one  of  the  greatest  pleasures  that  our  household 
afforded  Gustava  and  myself. 

Ludwig  has  given  up  music,  and  they  can  now  no  longer 
play  together.  But  when  I  heard  them  talking  in  unre- 
strained converse,  and  observed  how  the  one  transposed  the 
mood  r'  J  the  thoughts  of  the  other  into  his  own  key,  and 
developed  it,  adding  new  combinations  of  ideas ;  and  when 
I  noticed  how  the  eye  of  either  speaker  would,  from  time  to 
time,  rest  upon  the  other  with  a  joyful  expression, — it  seemed 
yet  more  beautiful  and  more  grateful  to  my  heart  than  any 
music  could  oe.  And  withal,  each  temperament  preserved 
ii.3  own  melody.  Richard  looked  forward  for  some  event  that 
would  mark  a  turning-point  in  the  affairs  of  men,  or  for  the 
advent  of  some  great  man,  to  utter  the  command,  "  Come>  and 
follow  me."  Ludwig  added  that  liberation  could  only  be 
brought  about  by  one  who  possessed  a  cool  head  and  a  firm 
hand,  so  that,  without  swerving  a  hair's  breadth  to  either 
side,  he  could  put  in  the  knife  where  it  was  needed. 

Richard,  with  more  than  his  wonted  animation,  spoke 
joyfully  of  being  released  from  the  opposition  party,  and 


WALDFRIED. 


253 


when  Ludwig  approvingly  said  that  the  time  was  now  com- 
ing for  Germany  in  which  those  who  were  dissatisfied  with 
its  laws  and  institutions  would  not  be  the  only  free  ones, 
Richard  again  urged  him  to  consider  how  hard  it  would  be 
if  no  one  of  us  should  take  charge  of  the  estate,  and  it  should 
thus  at  some  day  fall  into  the  hands  of  strangers. 

"  That  is  no  misfortune,"  replied  Ludwig.    "  Our  posterity 
may  again  become  poor,  just  as  our  ancestors  were;    all 
property  must  change  hands  at  some  time  or  other.     To 
encourage  the  fond  desire  of  retaining  possession  of  a  so 
called  family  estate,  savors  of  aristocratic  feeling." 

Richard  was  struck  by  this  reply,  and  said  :  "  You  are 
more  familiar  with  the  history  of  the  Indians  than  I  am ; 
but  do  you  recollect  the  reply  of  the  chief  whom  they  were 
endeavoring  to  persuade  to  move  off  with  those  who  be- 
longed to  him,  into  another  territory — '  Give  us  the  graves 
of  our  ancestors  to  take  with  us?'  And,  Ludwig,  over 
there  is  the  grave  of  our  mother." 

There  was  a  long  silence  after  that,  and  Ludwig  merely 
replied,  "You  do  wrong  to  urge  me  so." 

Martella  had  been  sitting  near  by  while  the  two  had  been 
carrying  on  their  familiar  conversation.  In  all  likelihood, 
she  had  understood  but  little  of  what  was  said,  for,  while 
discussing  the  improvement  of  the  whole  world,  they  indulged 
themselves  in  vistas  of  the  distant  future.  But  Martella 
would  look  first  at  one  and  then  at  the  other,  and  then  at 
me,  nodding  approval  each  time.  And  afterward,  when  she 
and  I  were  alone  together,  she  said,  "  Father,  your  eyes  told 
me  how  happy  you  were,  and  you  must  have  thought  just  as 
I  did ;  did  you  not  ?  Ah,  if  Ernst  only  knew  how  his  brothers 
are  here  talking  with  each  other  from  their  very  hearts  !  In- 
deed, if  he  were  here  he  would  be  the  most  sensible  of  all, 
for  there  is  no  one  like  Ernst." 


CHAPTER  VII. 

LUD WIG'S  servant  entered  and  inquired  whether  he 
might  accompany  "  madame  "  (meaning  Johanna)  to 
church. 

"  You  may  go,"  replied  Ludwig  to  the  servant,  who 
saluted  in  curt  military  style  and  left  the  room. 

Richard  inquired  where  the  man  was  from,  for  his  pro- 
nunciation would  prove  him  a  North  German. 

Ludwig  replied,  "Yes,  he  is  a  specimen  of  North  German 
discipline  and  reliability. 

"Although  he  was  willing  to  work  at  anything,  he  was 
almost  perishing  with  want  when  I  made  his  acquaintance. 
I  took  him  into  my  service,  and  every  order  I  gave  was 
executed  by  him  as  implicitly  as  if  he  were  obeying  an  im- 
perative law  of  nature. 

"  One  evening  I  had  an  appointment  to  meet  several  per- 
sons at  the  town  hall ;  I  took  him  with  me,  and  said  to  him, 
'*  Willem,  wait  here  for  me.' 

"  I  entered  and  had  a  lengthy  interview — forgot  Willem, 
and  left  through  another  door. 

"  The  next  morning  I  came  back  to  the  town  hall,  and 
there  stood  Willem. 

"  '  What  are  you  doing  there  ? '  I  asked. 

"'Ikwartej*  said  he. 

"  He  had  waited  there  all  night,  and  would  probably  have 
waited  the  whole  of  that  day,  if  I  had  not  by  chance  come 
there. 

*  I  am  waiting  (dialect). 


WALDFRIED. 


255 


"After  that,  we  always  called  him  'Ik-warte.'" 

We  were  so  happy  together.     It  was  one  of  those  moments 
that  one  wishes  might  be  prolonged  forever,  and  in  which 
one  dreads  to  move  from  his  seat  for  fear  of  breaking  the 
spell.     Our  happiness  was,  however,  not  to  be  of  long  dura  i 
tion. 

The  locksmith's  widow  came,  bringing  her  children  with 
her.  They  brought  a  pot  of  fine  honey,  and  fresh  garlands 
of  daisies  and  violets. 

Ludwig  advised  the  children — they  were  two  girls  and  a 
boy — above  all  things  not  to  consider  themselves  Americans ; 
for  if  Germans  would  work  as  they  do  in  America,  they 
could  do  just  as  well  as  the  Americans. 

The  widow  said  that  she  would  like  to  have  a  talk  with 
Ludwig  alone,  for  she  looked  upon  him  as  the  guardian  of 
her  children.  Ludwig  promised  to  pay  her  a  visit  at  an 
early  day. 

She  was  about  leaving  when  new  guests  arrived. 

Funk  called,  but  he  had  discreetly  sent  in  advance  his 
parade  horse,  Schweitzer-Schmalz,  who  was  attired  in  the 
national  costume  she  was  so  fond  of,  with  large,  round,  silver 
buttons.  He  walked  along  with  an  air  of  great  importance, 
with  his  bull  neck,  his  face  shining  with  good  living,  and  his 
thick  eyelids,  from  beneath  which  his  little  eyes  cast  their 
contemptuous  glances.  He  was  followed  by  the  village 
lawyer,  a  man  of  pleasing  appearance,  and,  indeed,  a  noble 
being  who  had  but  one  fixed  idea,  and  that  was  that  the  world 
was  to  be  protected  against  all  corporalism. 

Funk  followed  after  these  two  fit  companions  of  his.  He 
had  not  been  in  my  house  for  four  years. 

Schweitzer-Schmalz  was  the  first  to  speak,  and  uttered  a 
short,  hearty,  "  Welcome,  Ludwig  !  " 

For  the  first  time,  he  avoided  his  haughty  manner  of  treat- 


WALDFRIED. 

ing  every  one  as  "little  fellow."  The  tall,  commanding  ap- 
pearance of  Ludwig  awed  him. 

After  that,  the  lawyer  delivered  a  somewhat  longer  and 
quite  fervent  speech,  and  I  was  obliged  to  beg  Richard  to 
keep  quiet,  for  he  whispered  to  me,  "All  this  so  early  in 
the  morning,  and  without  an  audience  of  empty  bottles ! " 

Funk  extended  his  hand  in  silence  and  nodded  signifi- 
cantly, as  if  he  meant  to  say,  "  You  know  already  what  I 
mean." 

Martella  brought  wine  and  glasses.  It  hurt  me  to  feel 
that  she  was  in  the  presence  of  Funk,  who  had,  years  ago, 
so  maliciously  dragged  her  name  before  the  political  meeting. 

I  had  told  Ludwig  nothing  of  my  rupture  with  Funk. 

Funk  inquired  about  several  who  had  been  their  com- 
panions in  revolution  and  who  had  emigrated.  Of  many, 
Ludwig  could  give  no  information,  while  of  some  he  could 
give  us  good  report,  and  of  many  others,  sad  news. 

Ludwig  disapproved  of  the  emigration  fever. 

The  turn  that  the  conversation  had  taken  did  not  seem  to 
Funk's  taste ;  but  Ludwig  was  able  to  direct  it  as  he  de- 
sired, and,  addressing  himself  more  especially  to  the  lawyer, 
he  spoke  of  the  intimate  relations  that  existed  between  our 
country — South  Germany  in  particular — and  America. 

Owing  to  their  innate  energy,  and  in  spite  of  want,  misery 
and  ignorance  of  the  language,  the  proportion  who  succeed 
in  attaining  wealth,  position,  and  honors  is  much  larger  with 
the  first  generation  of  emigrants  than  with  their  children  who 
are  born  in  America. 

Statistics  had  proven  that,  in  spite  of  want  and  temptation, 
the  first  generation  offered  far  fewer  objects  for  the  jails  than 
did  the  second.  On  the  other  hand,  the  former  were  more 
largely  represented  in  the  insane  asylums. 

Funk  was  evidently  displeased,  and  emptied  his  glass  at 


WALDFRIED. 


257 


one  draught.  Although  he  laughed,  he  seemed  ill  at  ease 
when  Schvveitzer-Schmalz  said,  "  There  you  have  it.  I  have 
always  told  you  little  folk  may  emigrate;  but  the  right  sort 
of  a  man,"  he  said,  stroking  his  fat  belly  at  the  same  time, 
"  knows  where  he  is  best  off,  and  keeps  at  home." 

"  I  believe  that  you  are  also  one  of  the  deceived  ones," 
said  Ludwig,  supplementing  his  remarks.  "You  cannot 
know,  or,  at  all  events,  only  know  it  superficially,  that  the 
projectors  of  new  railroads  attempt  to  help  the  price  of  their 
shares  by  encouraging  emigration  into  the  territory  traversed 
by  their  road,  and  that  many  who  get  gratuities  by  them  do 
not  even  know  this." 

Funk  suggested  that  a  festive  gathering  of  people  from 
the  village  and  surrounding  country  should  take  place  on 
any  Sunday  that  Ludwig  might  fix  upon.  The  meeting  was 
to  be  in  honor  of  his  arrival.  At  this  time  he  was  doubly 
welcome,  for  he  would  assist  in  dispelling  the  Prussian  pesti- 
lence. 

"  I  see  you  are  still  fond  of  set  phrases,"  replied  Ludwig, 
and  added  :  "  How  strange  it  is — since  the  congress  of 
Vienna,  all  friends  of  the  Fatherland  have  been  clamoring 
for  a  man  who,  with  firm  hand  and  shrewd  judgment,  would, 
regardless  of  consequences,  force  Germany  into  unity ;  and 
now  that  he  is  with  us,  they  hurl  stones  at  him.  And  do 
you  know,  Professor,  what  it  is  that  particularly  pleases  me 
in  Bismarck  ?  "  he  exclaimed  roguishly. 

"  How  should  I  know  ?  " 

"  He  has  fortunately  one  of  those  rare  names  that  can  be 
pronounced  the  same  in  all  languages." 

"  We  had  thought  we  should  meet  an  old  republican — an 
enemy  of  tyrants  !  "  exclaimed  Funk. 

"  I  have  not  changed  in  that  respect,"  answered  Ludwig. 
"  The  question  whether  a  republic  or  a  monarchy  should  be 
17 


258 


WALDFRIED. 


preferred,  is  about  the  same  as  if  one  were  to  ask  which  is 
better,  meat  or  farinaceous  food  ?  All  depends  upon  the  man- 
ner in  which  the  food  is  prepared,  and  upon  the  digestive 
powers  of  the  stomach.  But  don't  let  us  dispute  now.  I 
trust  we  shall  have  a  chance  yet  to  discuss  these  matters 
more  calmly." 

"  What  day  have  you  determined  on  ?  "  inquired  Funk. 

Ludwig  said  that  he  desired  no  such  compliment.  He 
preferred  to  renew  his  acquaintance  with  the  people  and 
their  circumstances  in  a  quiet,  unobtrusive  manner. 

The  church  bells  began  tolling,  and  Funk  said  :  "  Perhaps 
you  wish  to  go  to  church  ?  You  have  probably  grown 
religious,  too  ?  " 

"Thanks  for  catechizing  me,"  said  Ludwig. 

"  Ah,  I  forgot  to  address  you  as  '  Colonel/  "  said  Funk. 

"  That  makes  no  difference,  although  my  rank  is  that  of 
colonel.  I  was  promoted  at  the  front,  and  it  is  the  greatest 
pride  of  my  life  that  I  did  my  duty  in  the  war  for  wiping  out 
slavery." 

I  do  not  know  whether  it  was  shrewdness  or  arrogance 
towards  his  companion  or  ourselves,  that  induced  Schweitzer- 
Schmalz  to  assume  his  wonderfully  self-complacent  air. 

"  Yes,  Colonel,"  said  he,  "  another  American  war  would 
not  be  so  unpleasant  to  us  after  all  ?  " 

"  What  do  you  mean  by  that  ?  " 

"  Why,  that  we  gained  one  great  advantage  from  it,  or,  as 
my  student  says,  '  pitch.'  " 

"  I  do  not  understand  you." 

"  Yes,"  began  Schweitzer-Schmalz,  after  emptying  his  glass, 
"your  father  doesn't  like  rosin;  but,  for  the  little  farmers, 
the  pine-trees  which  give  rosin  are  just  like  so  many  milch- 
cows.  I  have  a  piece  of  woodland  that  I  milked  hard,  be- 


WALDFRIED. 


259 


cause,  so  long  as  the  war  lasted,  no  rosin  came  from  America, 
and  the  price  of  ours  went  up  very  much." 

Richard  could  not  refrain  from  remarking  on  the  wonder- 
ful connection  that  made  changes  in  one  country  affect  the 
most  distant  portions  of  the  globe.  And  thus  the  visit, 
which  had  promised  to  be  so  disagreeable,  ended  quite 
pleasantly. 

Funk  and  his  companions  left,  and  when  Richard  was 
about  to  speak  of  Funk's  emptiness,  Ludwig  replied  : 

"  You  are  deceived  in  him.  He  is  full  of  what  we,  in 
America,  call  *  steam.'  He  has  a  restless  spirit  of  enter- 
prise." 

My  daughter-in-law  and  Johanna  went  to  church  together, 
and  Ikwarte  followed  after  them. 

The  watchman  came,  and  Ludwig  gave  him  a  considerable 
present. 

After  that,  Ludwig  requested  me  to  accompany  him 
to  the  statue  gallery,  where  he  said :  "  Father,  I  have 
brought  nothing  for  you  ;  but  I  know  that  your  greatest 
pleasure  is  to  do  acts  of  beneficence;  let  me,  therefore, 
place  this  sum  of  money  in  your  hands,  so  that  you  may  dis- 
tribute it  according  to  your  best  judgment.  If  I  can  do  good 
through  you,  I  shall  be  doing  good  to  myself;  and,  as  mother 
is  no  longer  living,  I  must -ask  you  to  attend  to  this  for  me." 

I  doubt  whether  in  yonder  church  there  was  one  heart 
more  piously  inclined  than  ours  were  on  that  day. 

But  it  seems  that  nothing  in  life  can  remain  perfectly  pure 
and  undisturbed. 

We  were  just  about  sitting  down  to  dinner,  when  a  wretch- 
ed-looking creature,  called  Wacker,  entered.  He  lived  in 
the  neighboring  valley,  and  had  once  been  a  comrade  of  Lud- 
wig's  at  the  Polytechnic  school.  He  had  left  school  at  an 
early  day,  in  order  to  take  charge  of  a  beer  brewery,  and 


26O  WALDFRIED. 

had  become  a  drunkard.  His  place  had  been  sold  out,  and 
he  now  wandered  about  from  one  little  tavern  to  another, 
where  he  would  spend  the  day  between  maudlin  curses  and 
drunken  slumbers.  When  he  entered  the  house,  it  was  only 
noon,  and  he  was  already  intoxicated. 

"  Brother,"  he  exclaimed,  "  give  me  one  of  your  Califor- 
nia lumps  of  gold ;  or,  if  that  is  asking  too  much,  see  that  I 
have  free  tap  for  one  year  at  the  *  Lamb.' .  Here  is  my  hand. 
If  the  war  begins  again,  I  will  help.  Give  me  hand-money 
— throat-money — throat-money  !  " 

He  offered  his  hand  to  Ludwig,  who  declined  it.  I  saw 
his  indignation ;  his  glance  fell  on  Ludwig's  wife  and  on 
Wolfgang,  for  the  latter  seemed  surprised  that  the  degraded 
creature  should  address  his  father  in  such  familiar  terms. 
Wacker  begged  for  a  gift,  but  Ludwig  refused  it  with  the 
words,  "  Get  some  employment,  and  then  I  will  help  you, 
but  not  before." 

Wacker  replied  in  vile,  abusive  terms. 

Ludwig  instantly  collared  him  and  led  him  from  the  room. 

We  could  hear  him  cursing,  after  he  got  out  into  the  road ; 
and  then  he  staggered  down  the  hillside. 

There  was  something  cold  and  hard  as  iron  in  Ludwig's 
manner  towards  all  except  his  nearest  kindred,  to  whom  he 
was  kind  and  gentle. 

This  interruption  was  a  shrill  dissonance  in  our  Sunday's 
pleasure.  We  soon  forgot  it,  however. 


CHAPTER  VIII. 

IN  the  afternoon,  Julius  and  his  betrothed  visited -us,  and, 
in  a  little  while,  letters  containing  uniform  mes- 
sages were  sent  in  all  directions.  The  Professor,  my  daugh- 
ter-in-law, Wolfgang,  Johanna  and  her  daughter,  Julius  and 
his  intended,  all  wrote  ;  for  every  one  was  to  have  a  separ- 
ate invitation  to  the  great  family  gathering  on  the  following 
Sunday.  At  Ludwig's  request,  all  of  our  relatives  were  in- 
formed that  he  insisted  on  their  making  the  journey  at  his 
charge.  Those  who  did  not  need  it  should  state  the  amount, 
nevertheless,  and  if  they  so  wished  might  give  it  to  the  poor. 
In  this  way,  no  one  who  could  not  afford  the  expense  would 
be  prevented  from  undertaking  the  journey. 

Rothfuss  and  Ikwarte  walked  off  to  town  to  mail  the  let- 
ters, of  which  there  were  nearly  fifty.  To  my  sister  who  lived 
in  the  Hagenau  forest,  I  wrote  in  person. 

Rothfuss  had  told  Ikwarte  all  that  he  had  done  for  Lud- 
wig,  and  was  not  a  little  surprised  to  receive,  instead  of 
praise,  a  nod  of  disapproval  and  the  reproach,  "It  was  not 
right,  after  all."  He  told  me  of  it,  and  could  not  understand 
how  that  "up  there  in  Prussia,"  they  were  not  all  opposed  to 
the  government  and  glad  to  deceive  it.  He  seemed  to  think 
that  Ikwarte,  and  all  like  him,  were  exceedingly  simple. 

Rothfuss  was  as  jealous  of  Carl  as  a  reigning  prince  of  the 
heir  apparent.  He  noticed  that  Ikwarte  was  well  inclined 
toward  Carl,  whose  good  looks  and  military  air  were  much 
in  his  favor,  and  he  went  so  far  as  to  confide  to  Ikwarte  that 
Carl  had  suffered  himself  to  be  taken  prisoner  in  order  to* 
avoid  fighting. 


262  WALDFRIED. 

After  that  Rothfuss  was  the  sole  favorite  of  Ikwarte,  who 
hardly  bestowed  a  glance  on  Carl,  and  barely  answered  his 
questions. 

A  soldier  who  voluntarily  allows  himself  to  be  captured  ! 
He  could  not  understand  how  such  a  man  could  walk  erect, 
and  on  Sundays  wear  his  soldier's  cap  with  the  red  pom- 
pon. 

"  He  knows  nothing  about  oxen,  but  he  is  a  first-rate 
judge  of  horses,"  said  Rothfuss,  speaking  of  Ikwarte ;  "and 
he  holds  the  plough  as  if  he  were  screwed  fast  to  it.  And  he 
can  work,  too  ;  that's  certain.  And  he  is  modest.  Instead 
of  saying  '  No,'  he  always  says,  '  I  am  not  sure  ; '  and  in- 
stead of  saying  'Yes,'  he  says,  '  It  is  so.'  He  can't  sing,  nor 
even  yodel ;  and  the  greatest  praise  he  gives  any  one  is 
to  say,  '  He  is  a  steady  fellow.'  And  when  he  wishes  to  say 
that  you  are  right,  he  says,  *  It  agrees.'  And  he  is  not  at  all 
inquisitive ;  he  never  asks  who  any  one  is." 

Willem  was  just  as  sparing  of  words  as  Rothfuss  was  lav- 
ish of  them  ;  and  it  was  a  droll  sight  to  watch  the  two  sitting 
together.  I  think  that  each  one  considered  himself  the  su- 
perior of  the  other  and  patronized  him  accordingly.  Roth- 
fuss did  it  with  words,  Ikwarte  with  glances.  He  evidently 
regarded  Rothfuss  as  an  old  child ;  and  Rothfuss,  in  turn, 
looked  upon  him  as  a  poor  awkward  being  who  had  not 
learned  how  to  express  himself  properly.  When  they  spoke 
to  each  other,  they  always  screamed  at  the  top  of  their 
voices ;  each  only  understood  about  half  of  what  was 
said  by  the  other,  and  they  thought  they  might  help  matters 
by  screaming. 

Rothfuss  could  hardly  be  brought  to  believe  that  Ikwarte 
had  not  emigrated  on  account  of  his  being  unable  to  endure 
German  oppression  ;  but  Ikwarte  was  without  a  trace  of 
political  opinion.  All  that  he  knew  of  the  state  was  that  one 


WALDFRIED.  263 

should  serve  it  as  a  soldier  and  pay  taxes.  Of  Ludwig,  he 
said,  "  My  master  is  a  man,  and  a  man  of  his  word  at  that." 

Towards  his  master,  he  had  a  certain  feeling  of  implicit 
and  dutiful  obedience;  he  was  fond  of  saying,  "Let  every- 
thing be  well  grounded." 

Rothfuss  consoled  him  with  the  words  :  "  Don't  mind  it, 
if  they  try  to  tease  and  worry  you  here.  If  you  plant  a 
strange  tree  in  the  forest,  the  stags  will  rub  their  horns 
against  it  and  tear  the  bark,  but  the  tree  is  not  harmed, 
after  all." 

Rothfuss  was  quite  beside  himself  with  laughter  when 
Ikwarte  asked  him  what  bodily  infirmity  had  prevented  my 
two  servants,  who  had  not  been  soldiers,  from  entering  the 
army.  He  could  not  understand  that  we  still  drew  lots  in 
our  neighborhood. 

Ludwig  had  gone  to  the  capital  to  make  various  arrange- 
ments for  the  family  meeting,  and  I  remained  at  home  work- 
ing in  the  forest  with  Carl  and  Ikwarte,  whose  clever  wa)  i 
and  even  temper  greatly  pleased  me. 


CHAPTER   IX. 

r  I  ^HE  schoolmaster's  wife  and  Martella  had  decorated 
JL  our  steps  and  the  doorway  with  flowers  and  garlands, 
to  the  great  delight  of  all  of  us,  and  Ludwig  in- particular. 
But  on  the  second  day,  Ludwig  said  to  Rothfuss  : 

"  Take  down  the  wreaths ;  nothing  is  uglier  than  to  let 
flowers  hang  until  they  wilt." 

"  He  is  right,"  said  Rothfuss,  smiling.  "  My  mother 
always  said  that  Sunday  clothes  should  not  be  worn  on 
week  days.  Ludwig's  mother  had  good  sense,  and  so  had 
mine." 

On  the  third  day,  Ludwig  said,  "  Father,  I  shall  now  leave 
my  wife  and  son  with  you  for  a  few  days." 

He  sent  his  little  trunk  ahead,  and,  throwing  his  plaid 
over  his  shoulder,  took  up  his  walk  through  the  valley  and 
over  the  mountains.  Richard,  who  was  obliged  to  examine 
several  candidates  for  the  doctor's  degree,  accompanied 
him. 

I  felt  surprised  that  Ludwig  should  leave  me  so  soon,  but 
by  noon  it  was  clear  to  me  that  he  had  acted  wisely.  His 
wife  and  son  were  much  more  at  their  ease  when  they 
found  themselves  alone  with  me ;  for,  with  all  his  kindness, 
there  was  something  commanding  in  Ludwig's  manner  which 
made  every  one  feel  as  if  under  restraint  while  in  his  presence. 

His  wife  was  quiet  and  self-contained,  and,  seeing  that  I 
noticed  this,  told  me  that  she  had  been  living  on  a  lonely 
farm  with  her  father,  who  was  very  sparing  of  his  words, 
and  that  she  had  thus  acquired  a  habit  of  silence.  After  her 


WALDFRIED. 


265 


marriage  and  her  father's  death,  which  soon  followed  it, 
Ludwig  had  been  obliged,  by  his  engagements  as  con- 
structor of  water-works,  to  spend  days  and  weeks  away  from 
home.  It  was  not  until  the  last  year,  when  they  had  moved 
into  a  city,  that  he  was  more  at  home  ;  but,  even  then,  pub- 
lic affairs  claimed  a  great  share  of  his  time.  During  the 
war,  he  had  been  in  the  field  with  the  army  for  at  least 
two  years. 

She  had  seen  much  trouble.  She  was  but  twelve  years 
old  when  the  family  emigrated  to  America.  During  the 
first  few  years,  her  parents  employed  themselves  as  teachers  ; 
and  when,  in  rapid  succession,  the  mother  and  her  brother 
and  sister  died,  she  and  her  father  moved  to  the  farm.  As- 
sisted by  a  couple  of  free  negroes  who  helped  in  the  field, 
she  was  obliged  to  conduct  the  whole  household.  The  two 
children  she  had  lost  had  died  because  medical  assistance 
could  not  be  obtained  in  time,  and,  for  that  reason,  they  had 
moved  to  the  city.  Their  eldest  son  had  died  while  Ludwig 
was  in  the  army,  fighting  against  the  secessionists. 

She  gently  hinted  that  it  was  her  wish  to  remain  in  Europe, 
but  that  she  would  not  urge  this,  as  she  feared  Ludwig  would 
not  find  a  large  enough  field  for  his  energy.  She  said  that 
he  was  accustomed  to  constant  and  varied  activity,  and  stood 
very  high  at  home. 

It  was  with  some  hesitation  that  she  asked  me  whether  I 
objected  to  the  fact  of  her  having  only  been  married  by  civil 
process,  and  that  Wolfgang  belonged  to  no  church.  I  re- 
assured her,  for  J  felt  well  satisfied  that  Johanna  had  already 
made  persistent  attempts  at  conversion  in  this  quarter.  My 
daughter-in-law  became  much  attached  to  Joseph's  wife  and 
the  school-master's.  She  was  very  fond  of  raising  flowers, 
and  determined  to  take  many  different  kinds  of  seeds  back 
to  America  with  her. 


WALDFRIED. 

While  the  presence  of  my  newly  found  daughter  was  a 
quiet  pleasure,  my  grandson  was  an  incomparable  joy  to  me. 
He  was  at  my  side  from  morning  till  night.  I  think  he 
must  have  asked  Martella  to  tell  him  what  pleased  me,  for 
he  seemed  to  anticipate  my  every  wish. 

I  showed  him  our  own  saw-mill,  and  also  the  one  that 
belonged  to  the  village.  He  readily  understood  the  prin- 
ciple of  the  machinery,  and  seemed  to  have  quite  a  store  cf 
general  information. 

I  had  a  little  nursery  of  forest- trees  ;  it  was  well  situated. 
Martella  was  always  my  best  assistant :  she  knew  all  about 
planting  and  how  to  care  for  the  plants  that  had  been  raised 
from  the  seed,  and,  morever,  had  a  watchful  eye  for  the  grub- 
worm.  Since  she  came  to  us  there  had  not  been  one  of 
these  to  destroy  the  seed. 

I  now  went  there  with  Wolfgang,  and  his  first  question, 
on  seeing  the  thriving  bed,  was  whether  it  were  still  early 
enough  in  the  year  to  sow  seeds  of  forest-trees. 

We  had  some  soaked  one-year-old  seeds.  We  marked  his 
name  in  the  ground.,  and  he  laid  the  seeds  in  the  furrow,  after 
the  subsoil  had  been  trodden  down  so  that  the  seeds  might 
at  once  have  firm  soil  in  which  to  take  root.  After  that,  we 
placed  loose  and  fertile  earth  on  top. 

I  explained  to  him  our  manner  of  working  :  how  we 
mixed  lime  with  the  barren  soil  of  the  heath,  and  thus  pro- 
duced the  best  and  most  nourishing  soil  for  the  young  shoots  ; 
how  the  seed  should  be  sown  after  spring  had  fairly  set  in, 
and  how,  after  the  tender  plants  had  reached  the  age  of  two 
years,  they  should  be  transferred  to  the  nursery,  there  to  re- 
main until  their  fifth  year,  when  they  were  to  be  set  out  in 
the  place  they  were  finally  to  occupy  ;  how  the  new  nursery 
should  not  face  directly  towards  the  north,  on  account  oi 
the  absence  of  light,  and  because  the  plants  could  not 


WALDFRIED.  26? 

then  be  transplanted  to  land  exposed  to  direct  rays  of 
the  sun,  on  account  of  their  not  being  accustomed  to  such 
intense  light. 

"  Grandfather,  how  long  does  it  take,  after  planting  the 
seeds,  before  the  plant  shows  itself  through  the  soil  ?  " 

"  Two,  or,  at  the  most,  three  weeks  ;  it  generally  shows 
before  that  time." 

I  shall  never  forget  the  look  that  Wolfgang  then  gave  me, 
and  it  moved  my  heart  to  think  that  my  grandson,  who 
was  born  in  America,  had  planted  his  name  in  German 
soil. 

I  asked  Wolfgang  if  he  did  not  wish  to  accompany  me  up 
into  the  woods  where  my  wood-cutters  were  at  work.  He 
took  my  hand  in  silence. 

I  took  my  gun  with  me,  for  I  was  on  the  lookout  for  a  .ox 
which  had  its  cave  a  short  distance  from  the  road ;  but  it 
had  slipped  out  with  its  young  ones.  I  handed  my  second 
gun  to  Wolfgang ;  we  shot  wild  pigeons,  and  my  setter 
brought  them  to  us,  laid  them  down  before  Wolfgang,  and 
looked  up  into  his  face. 

I  must  be  brief,  however.  I  have  always  been  fortunate 
enough  to  see  something  more  in  the  forest  than  merely  so 
many  cords  of  wood.  But  how  weakly  words  describe  the 
sunshine,  the  forest-breezes,  the  singing  of  the  birds,  or 
cheerful  walks  through  shady  groves,  with  resting-places  on 
heights  where  the  lovely  valley  is  spread  before  one's  eyes. 
It  had  never  been  so  charming  as  on  that  very  day. 

We  met  Rautenkron,  and  he  was  carrying  two  young  does 
whose  mother  had  been  driven  away  by  a  strange  hound. 
I  introduced  Wolfgang  to  him  ;  but  he  shook  his  head  and 
made  no  reply. 

"  What  a  sullen,  gloomy  man,"  said  Wolfgang.  "  Can  one 
become  so  in  these  lovely  woods,  so  full  of  sunshine  and 


WALDFRIED. 

the  songs  of  birds  ?  But  yet  he  must  be  good,  for  all  that ; 
he  carried  the  does." 

I  felt  obliged  to  explain  how  that  might  have  come  about. 
The  roe  lures  the  dogs  on  false  scents,  in  order  to  save  its 
young  ones. 

We  heard  sounds  of  a  church-bell  coming  up  from  the 
valley,  and  met  Rautenkron's  laborers  carrying  their  caps  in 
their  hands ;  they  passed  us  in  silence. 

I  explained  to  Wolfgang  that  these  were  Catholics,  and 
that  they  were  praying. 

I  grasped  his  hand,  and  said,  "  Since  you  confess  no  espec- 
ial form  of  religion,  it  is  doubly  your  duty,  both  for  your  own 
sake  and  for  that  of  freedom,  always  to  remain  brave  and 
steadfast,  so  that  people  shall  not  be  able  to  say — " 

"I  know  already,  grandfather,  what  you  wish  to  say. 
You  can  depend  upon  me." 

We  continued  our  walk  up  the  mountain,  which  was  known 
as  Silvertop.  From  its  peak  one  can  see  far  over  the 
mountain-peaks,  with  their  dark-green  mantle,  in  which  the 
ravines  form  majestic  folds.  There  were  remnants  of  a  fire 
at  which  the  forest-laborers  had  prepared  their  noonday 
meal.  I  threw  a  few  handfuls  of  brushwood  on  the  fire  ; 
the  flames  arose  on  high.  Wolfgang  exclaimed :  "  Grand- 
father, it  was  just  like  this  !  It  was  just  so  that  I  saw  you  in 
my  dreams.  And  now  I  can  remember  what  you  said.  It 
often  annoyed  me  to  think  that  I  had  forgotten  it ;  the  voice 
was  powerful,  and  said,  '  The  water  nourishes  the  tree,  and 
the  fire  destroys  it ;  the  water  roars,  and  the  fire  gently 
sleeps.'  Thus  .  .  .  and  so  on." 

Wolfgang's  eye  glowed  with  a  strange  expression,  and  I 
had  just  opened  my  lips  to  address  him,  when  he  vehemently 
motioned  me  away  with  both  hands,  and,  gazing  into  the 


WALDFRIED.  26$ 

distance,  said  in  an  impressive  tone,  "  Yes,  I  hear  the  sound; 
it  came  from  the  blazing  fire." 

Far  above  us, 
In  the  heavens, 
Hovers  now 
The  darkening  cloud. 
Still  united, 
Soon  divided ; 
Now  creating, 
Now  destroying : 
Joined  divinely, 
Fire  and  water 
In  its  bosom, 
Peaceful,  dwell. 

The  youth  looked  about  him  as  if  in  ecstasy,  and  then 
grasping  my  hand  in  both  of  his,  he  said :  "  Yes.  grandfather ; 
daring  my  illness  I  saw  you  standing  in  the  forest  at  such 
a  fire.  You  can  ask  father — but  you  believe  me,  don't 
you  ?  " 

"  Of  course." 

The  countenance  of  the  youth  seemed  illumined  with  joy. 

We  seated  ourselves  on  a  bench,  and  silently  gazed  at  the 
distant  prospect. 

At  last  Wolfgang  spoke.  "  Grandfather,  now  I  have  it. 
In  your  forest  garden  are  your  grandson  trees.  The  seed 
comes  from  the  trees  that  you  planted.  And  now  I  know 
something.  I  know  it  quite  positively,  but  I  can  keep 
it  to  myself.  Father  always  says  that  one  should  not  be  too 
hasty  in  talking  of  important  things  that  one  intends  to 
do ;  it  is  best  to  sleep  on  them  first.  If  one  is  of  the  same 
mind  the  next  morning,  it  is  all  right.  I  shall  'tell  it  you  to- 
morrow, but  not  to-day.  My  idea  is  a  good  one,  and  I  think 
it  will  please  you  as  much  as  it  docs  me." 


270  WALDFRIED. 

We  took  up  our  path,  and  stopped  where  some  wood- 
cutters were  rolling  the  trunk  of  a  tree  down  the  mountain- 
side ;  it  bounded  over  young  trees  in  its  way,  and  Wolfgang 
said.  "  Won't  it  crush  them  ?  " 

"Oh,  pshaw!"  said  a  wood-cutter,  "They'll  straighten 
themselves  again.  We  have  to  do  the  same  thing  our- 
selves." 

We  reached  the  spot  where  my  woodmen  were  at  work. 
Wolfgang  at  once  took  hold  of  an  axe  and  helped  them  lus- 
tily. But  here,  too,  he  showed  his  good  judgment.  He 
was  not  hasty,  as  novices  usually  are,  and  soon  succeeded  in 
copying  the  manner  of  the  workmen. 

We  kept  up  our  walk  until  we  reached  the  mountain  lake. 
The  last  time  I  had  been  in  this  spot  was  twenty  years  ago, 
with  Gustava  ;  and  now  it  seemed  as  if  I  were  there  for  the 
first  time  in  my  life. 

There  lay  the  lake,  surrounded  by  steep,  pine-covered 
walls ;  not  a  sound  was  heard,  save  at  times  the  roaring  of 
the  trees,  and  the  solemn  beating  of  the  waves  against 
the  shore.  The  sun  shone  on  the  water,  and  its  ripples 
sparkled  like  so  many  glittering  diamonds. 

"  Do  you  come  here  often  ?  "  asked  Wolfgang. 

"No;  the  last  time  I  was  here  was  with  grandmother, 
twenty  years  ago." 

It  went  hard  with  me  to  leave  the  lake.  Who  knows 
whether  I  shall  live  to  return  there  again  ?  It  will  ever  re- 
main unchanged  ;  for  generation  after  generation  shall  come 
here,  as  to  a  shrine,  and  yield  itself  up  to  the  mysterious  in- 
fluence  of  the  place. 

When  we  at  last  started  to  leave,  I  was  often  obliged  to 
turn  and  look  back.  I  constantly  felt  that  now  it  must  be 
full  of  its  awful  beauty,  and  that  I  had  seen  it  for  the  last 
time. 


WALDFRIED.  2/I 

It  was  towards  evening  when  I  reached  the  house.  I 
had  not  been  so  tired  for  a  long  time  ;  for  climbing  forest-clad 
mountains,  while  excited  by  emotions,  be  they  ever  so  joyous, 
is  apt  to  exhaust  one.  But  I  was  looking  forward  into  a 
happy  future. 

When  I  awoke  on  the  following  morning,  Wolfgang  stood 
at  my  bedside,  and  said :  "  Grandfather,  it  has  rained  dur- 
during  the  night ;  our  plants  are  thriving  beautifully.  Now 
I  can  tell  you — I  have  determined  to  become  a  forester." 

I  had,  on  the  previous  day,  explained  to  Wolfgang  a  beau- 
tiful provision  of  nature  ;  how,  when,  through  accident,  the 
growth  of  the  main  trunk  of  the  pine-tree  is  interfered  with, 
a  side  branch  becomes  converted  into  the  main  trunk. 
None  of  my  sons  had  become  foresters,  and  now  Julius  and 
Wolfgang  were  side-branches  that  made  up  for  it. 

I  believe  it  was  fortunate  that  Wolfgang's  resolve  to  be- 
come a  forester  sprang  from  his  affection  for  the  forest,  and 
not  from  his  love  of  the  hunting. 

Unfortunately,  the  other  motive  had  been  Ernst's.  I  had 
often  warned  him,  but  in  vain. 


CHAPTER  X. 

A  FEW  days  after  that,  I  was  surprised  by  a  newspaper 
article,  which  had  been  written  by  my  son  Ludwig. 
I  have  preserved  it.     It  read  as  follows  : 

"  THREE  QUESTIONS   AND   THREE   ANSWERS. 

"  All  hail  to  the  friends  of  my  youth,  and  of  my  Father- 
land! 

"Every  one  has  a  right  to  address  three  questions  to  me ; 
and,  as  it  is  not  one  of  the  pleasures  of  life  to  repeat  the 
same  thing  a  hundred  times,  I  hope  I  may  be  permitted  to 
answer  in  this  public  manner. 

"First:  How  goes  it  with  you,  and  do  you  intend  to  re- 
main with  us  ? 

"It  goes  well  with  me.  For  the  first  few  years  I  spent  in 
America,  I  had  hard  times ;  but  I  worked  my  way  through. 
I  am  not  rich,  but  have  enough.  I  married  a  German, 
the  daughter  of  Professor  Uhlenkemp.  I  lost  my  eldest 
son  during  the  war  with  the  South,  and  have  another 
son  sixteen  years  of  age,  who  belongs  to  no  religious  denom- 
ination. 

"  As  to  my  remaining  here,  or  leaving,  I  am  for  the  pres- 
ent, unable  to  answer. 

"Second:  What  do  you  think  of  emigration  to  America? 

"Answer:  The  United  States  afford  elbow-room  and 
freedom,  and  are  a  good  refuge  for  people  who  are  willing  to 
work  hard  in  order  to  achieve  independence.  But  he  who 
emigrates  must  make  up  his  mind  to  forego  many  pleasures, 
with  which  we  at  home  are  so  familiarized  that  we  do  not 


WALDFRIED. 


273 


know  that  we  are  enjoying  them  ;  just  as  we  do  not  miss  the 
drink  of  fresh,  pure  water,  until  it  can  no  longer  be  had,  and 
do  not  think  of  the  pure  air  while  it  is  ours  to  breathe. 

"  Third:  How  do  you  find  Germany? 

"  I  find  only  halves  of  Germany  ;  but  they  must  and  will 
— who  knows  how  soon — become  a  whole  Germany. 

"The  German  people  have  become  more  practical  and 
well-to-do  than  they  were  formerly.  As  far  as  I  have  been 
able  to  observe,  there  is  an  abundance  of  well-directed 
energy ;  great  activity  in  all  that  pertains  to  the  trades,  to 
science  or  to  art,  and  enough  liberty  to  achieve  what  is  still 
needed  to  make  a  complete  whole.  Let  all  remain  strong 
and  firm,  and,  without  faltering,  faithfully  labor  for  the  com- 
mon weal. 

"  These  are  my  answers  ;  and  to  every  one  whom  I  meet 
and  find  true  to  the  Fatherland  and  to  liberty,  I  shall  cor- 
dially extend  the  hand  of  fellowship. 

"LUDWIG  WALDFRIED, 

"  Hydraulic  and  Civil  Engineer, 

"  Chicago." 

This  explanation  of  Ludwig's  naturally  caused  me  some 
surprise.  But  it  was  practical,  at  all  events,  although  the 
reference  to  Wolfgang  seemed  unnecessary,  and  calculated 
to  provoke  unpleasant  comment. 

I  soon  became  aware  of  its  effect,  in  a  manner  which,  at 
first,  promised  to  be  unpleasant,  but  afterward  proved  for 
the  best. 

Although  Annette  was  still  living  in  our  neighborhood,  I 
have  not  mentioned  her  for  some  time.  She  would  ride  over 
to  see  us,  but  paid  us  only  short  visits,  and  would  occasion- 
ally inquire  about  the  Professor,  as  she,  too,  now  termed 
Richard. 

18 


274 


WALDFRIED. 


She  seemed  provoked  at  him,  and  probably  felt  resentment 
that  the  friendship,  and,  perhaps,  affection,  which  she  had 
offered  him  were  not  returned. 

She  visited  the  spinner  and  the  schoolmaster's  wife ;  she 
greeted  Martella  and  Rothfnss,  but  her  whole  manner  seemed 
strange  and  constrained.  I  soon  knew  the  reason  for  this ;  for 
Johanna  expressed  her  satisfaction  that  Annette,  who  had 
been  so  worldly,  had  at  last  been  saved ;  "  for,"  as  she  said, 
"  safety  can  be  found  even  in  the  Catholic  faith." 

The  Baroness  and  her  clerical  assistants  had  succeeded  in 
drawing  Annette  into  their  toils. 

One  day,  Annette  came  to  us  looking  pale  and  greatly 
excited.  She  said  that,  although  I  had  so  many  guests,  she 
begged  me  to  permit  her  to  stay  with  us  for  a  few  days.  She 
frankly  confessed  that  she  had,  now  and  forever,  broken  with 
the  Baroness  and  all  her  adherents.  The  Baroness  had  en- 
deavored to  bind  all  who  were  in  the  faith  to  break  off  in- 
tercourse with  our  family ;  for  it  is  written,  "  woe  to  that 
man  by  whom  the  offense  cometh,"  and  the  worst  offense 
had  issued  from  our  house.  The  fact  that  my  daughter-in- 
law  considered  herself  a  wife,  although  her  marriage  had  not 
been  solemnized  by  a  clergyman,  might  have  been  passed 
over  in  silence ;  but  the  public  proclamation  of  the  grand- 
son's want  of  religion  was  exasperating. 

Annette  had  determined  to  flee  from  such  fanatical  sur- 
roundings. 

I  told  her  of  Wolfgang's  power  of  self-control,  and  how  he 
had  held  back  a  resolution  which  illumined  his  whole  being 
until  he  had  quietly  matured  it ;  and  Annette  exclaimed, 
"  Yes ;  that  is  the  best  religion  ;  that  is  a  holy  spirit." 

1  was  obliged  to  restrain  her  from  expressing  herself  thus 
to  Wolfgang.  On  the  following  day,  Ludwig  returned  ;  and 
this  afforded  her  an  opportunity  to  unbosom  herself  to  him, 


WALDFRIED. 


275 


At   their  first   meeting,    he   conceived   a  great   liking  for 
her. 

He  told  her  of  the  great  family  gathering  that  was  to  be 
held. 

As  she  was  not  related  by  ties  of  kindred,  she  did  not  wish 
to  remain  with  us. 

But  Ludwig  induced  her  to  stay ;  and  when  he  and  I  were 
alone,  he  said,  "  I  cannot  understand  why  Richard  does  not 
sue  for  her  hand  ;  she  seems  to  be  made  for  him." 

I  told  him  that,  on  her  deathbed,  mother  had  said,  "  He 
will  marry'her  for  all." 

I  now  felt  satisfied  that  Gustava  had,  in  all  likelihood,  re- 
fen  id  to  Annette.  Ludwig  felt  sure  of  it;  but,  as  if  at  the 
san  e  time  marking  out  his  own  course,  he  said,  "  Father,  do 
not  let  Richard  notice  our  feelings  in  this  matter,  or  we  may 
fri£s.)ten  him  away." 

Wolfgang's  desire  to  become  a  forester  met  with  the  glad 
approval  of  his  father,  who  said  :  "  It  will  soon  turn  out  with 
the  American  forests  just  as  it  does  with  the  fishes  of  the  sea. 
One  cannot  always  be  harvesting  and  preying  on  others  ;  it 
is  necessary  to  plant  and  to  cultivate  as  well." 

He  requested  Annette,  who  was  very  much  interested  in 
Wolfgang,  and  spent  much  time  with  him,  not  to  interfere 
with  his  wonted  equanimity  ;  for  she  was  constantly  trying 
to  discover  how  Wolfgang  felt  when  he  saw  a  church-steeple, 
or  heard  the  church-bells.  She  had  just  emerged  from  an  at- 
mosphere which  was  religious  to  the  exclusion  of  all  other  con- 
siderations, and  the  youth  was  therefore  a  mysterious  and 
marvellous  contrast  to  all  that  she  had  left  behind  her.  He 
seemed  to  her  the  representative  being  of  later  centu- 
ries ;  and  she  tried  to  discover  how  things  would  be  after 
our  generation.  She  was  pleased  to  call  Wolfgang  <  Emile, 
and  reminded  us  of  Rousseau's  work  of  the  name. 


276  .  WALDFRIED. 

Ludwig's  wife  avoided  Annette,  who,  in  her  impulsive 
way,  had  at  once  desired  to  cultivate  intimate  relations  with 
her.  Conny,  who  was  quiet  and  reserved,  had  a  dread 
of  the  restless  fluttering  of  such  a  being  as  Annette. 


CHAPTER  XI. 

ONE  evening,  Martella  came  to  me,  and,  with  a  timid 
manner  to  which  I  was  quite  unused  in  her,  asked  me 
to  allow  her  to  return  to  Jaegerlies,  with  whom  she  had  for- 
merly lived.  She  had  heard  that  the  old  woman  was  sick,  and 
at  the  point  of  death.  She  had  left  her  quite  suddenly,  and 
now  wanted  to  return ;  and  thought  it  would  be  far  bet- 
ter if  she  were  not  to  come  back  until  our  guests  had  left. 

She  extended  her  hand  to  me,  and  said,  "  I  promise  you 
that  I  will  surely  return." 

Her  behavior  puzzled  me ;  and  when  I  endeavored  to 
find  out  why  she  really  wished  to  leave,  she  said  that  it  might 
be  a  stupid  feeling,  but  she  had  a  constant  presentiment  of 
some  great  misfortune  near  at  hand. 

I  tried  to  persuade  her  that  there  were  no  grounds  for  this 
uneasy  feeling,  as  Ludwig,  his  wife,  and  Wolfgang  all  treated 
her  as  one  of  the  family.  She  persisted  in  her  determina- 
tion ;  and  I  at  last  reminded  her  that  she  had  promised  my 
wife  never  to  leave  me. 

"  I  did  not  think  you  would  remind  me  of  that,"  she  said ; 
"  but,  of  course,  if  you  fall  back  on  that,  I  shall  remain  here 
'even  if  they  try  to  drive  me  away." 

Martella  might  well  feel  anxious,  for  she  was  a  living  proof 
that  our  family  was  incomplete ;  she,  too,  had  been  obliged 
to  accustom  herself  to  constant  sorrow,  and  to  learn  to  lead 
a  life  tranquil  and  resigned. 

Nearly  all  to  whom  invitations  had  been  sent,  promptly 
answered  that  they  would  come.  My  sister  wrote  that  she 


278 


WALDFRIED. 


would  bring  her  daughter,  and  her  future  son-in-law ;  but, 
that,  on  account  of  his  duties,  her  husband  would  be  unable 
to  leave  home.  My  brother-in-law,  the  pastor,  who  lived  in 
Alsace,  was  also  unable  to  come. 

With  every  letter  that  came,  I  felt  as  if  I  must  read  it  to 
my  wife.  Who  could  so  help  me  to  celebrate  such  a  day,  as 
she  would  have  done?  The  life  of  the  best  of  children  is 
really  for  themselves.  It  is  only  the  wife  who  lives  entirely 
for  and  with  her  husband — one  life  consisting  of  two  lives 
inseparably  united.  Inseparably !  They  have  been  sep- 
arated, and  a  portion  yet  lives,  leading  a  fragmentary  exist- 
ence. 

I  succeeded  in  repressing  my  emotions,  and  prepared  my- 
self for  the  great  joy  which  was  yet  vouchsafed  me. 

On  his  return  from  his  short  trip,  Ludwig  had  much  to  tell 
us,  giving  us  quite  a  medley  of  merry  and  sad  experiences. 
He  had  met  many  of  his  old  comrades ;  and,  among  others, 
had  visited  his  most  intimate  friend,  a  Professor  at  the  teach- 
ers'  seminary,  in  a  town  of  the  Oberland.  The  Professor  was 
a  model  of  quiet  unobtrusive  learning. 

"  I  am  shaping  my  block  of  stone,"  were  the  Professor's 
words :  "  what  place  it  may  occupy  in  the  great  Pantheon 
I  do  not  know ;  but,  nevertheless,  1  fulfil  my  little  task  as 
well  as  I  know  how." 

He  felt  quite  sad  to  find  one  of  his  old  comrades  in  the 
very  position  he  had  occupied  twenty-five  years  before.  He 
might  have  become  one  of  the  best  of  men,  for  he  has  a 
good  wife,  and  fine  children  ;  but  he  is  the  slave  of  drink, 
and  is  intoxicated  from  morning  till  night.  Indeed,  in  the 
country  one  must  constantly  renew  his  intellectual  life,  or 
there  is  danger  of  giving  way  to  drunkenness. 

Ludwig  had  also  visited  his  uncle,  the  Inspector  of  the 
water-works  at  the  Upper  Rhine,  under  whom  he  had  worked 


WALDFRIED.  2/9 

for  a  year.  He  regretted  his  inability  to  attend  our  festival, 
•but  promised  to  send  his  son  ;  and  Ludwig  was  quite  pleased 
when  he  told  us  how  his  uncle  had  said : 

"The  Rhine  seems  as  if  lost,  and  does  not  know  whither 
it  should  flow.  It  is  against  nature  that  one  bank  of  a 
stream  should  belong  to  one  country,  and  the  opposite  bank 
to  another." 

Sister  Babette  and  her  family  were  the  first  to  arrive  ;  and, 
shortly  after  their  first  greeting  of  Ludwig  and  his  family, 
they  inquired  for  Martella.  She  was  delighted  to  find  that 
they  were  so  much  interested  in  her,  and  also  to  obtain  from 
them  some  little  news  in  relation  to  Ernst's  short  stay  with 
them.  Even  Pincher  recognized  the  Alsatians. 

The  bridegroom-elect,  who  was  now  an  officer  of  the  cus- 
toms, had  come  in  his  uniform,  and  was  quite  condescending 
in  his  manner,  as  if  he  intended,  with  every  word,  to  say,  "  I 
am  superior  to  you  all,  for  I  am  a  Frenchman."  And  yet, 
in  spite  of  this,  he  had  the  very  German  name  of  Iviiiutle. 

Annette  did  him  the  favor  to  speak  French  with  him.  He 
was  quite  delighted,  and  Annette  asserted  that  he  and  his 
bride  were  ashamed  of  the  Alsatian  language ;  when  speak- 
ing French,  they  evidently  felt  that  they  appeared  at  their 
best,  and  to  ask  them  to  forego  that  pleasure  would  be 
much  the  same  as  requiring  one  never  to  wear  his  Sunday 
clothes. 

Annette  was  embroidering  a  silk  ribbon  ;  and  Richard 
picked  up  the  end  of  it  and  held  it  in  his  hands.  But 
she  generally  managed  to  spoil  the  effect  of  her  pretty 
speeches,  and  added  that  people  could  talk  French  without 
having  ideas ;  but  that,  when  speaking  German,  they  noticed 
the  absence  of  costume,  and  were  ashamed  thereat.  When 
she  uttered  these  last  words,  Richard  dropped  the  ribbon 
he  had  been  holding,  and  walked  away. 


2  So  WALDFRIED. 

Annette  was  happy  whenever  she  could  express  her  pleas- 
ure with  any  one,  and  Ludwig  was  not  wrong  in  saying  : 

"  She  will  be  one  of  the  best  of  wives  when  she  is  once  a 
mother.  Now  she  is  fluttering  about,  hither  and  thither  ;  is 
herself  restless,  and  disturbs  others." 

With  every  hour,  new  guests  arrived,  and  Martella  said : 
"  It  was  stupid  of  me  to  have  wanted  to  go  away ;  I  am 
needed  here,  where  there  are  so  many  strangers — no,  not 
strangers — O  dear  Lord,  so  many  beings  who  belong  to  one  ! 
If  mother  were  only  living  yet,  she  could  help  me  love  them. 
O  dear  father,  when  we  step  over  into  eternity,  and  meet  all 
the  beings  who  belong  to  us — so  many  !  so  many  !  Indeed, 
father,  you  are  now  experiencing  a  part  of  eternity." 

And  it  was  so. 

But  I  felt  that  age  was  coming  on  me.  I  could  not 
walk  about  much,  and  was  obliged  almost  constantly  to  re- 
main seated  in  my  room,  where  they  all  came  to  me.  To 
see  Wolfgang  and  Victor  together,  was  to  me  joy  unuttera- 
ble. My  sister  asserted  that,  when  a  child,  I  had  looked 
just  as  these  two  now  did.  I  cannot  imagine  that  I  ever 
looked  so  elegant  and  distinguished-looking. 

After  the  Major  joined  us,  the  customs  officer  became  much 
quieter  in  his  manner ;  for  the  Major  had  come  in  full  uniform. 

Johanna,  who,  since  Ludwig' s  arrival,  had  become  even 
more  reserved  and  austere,  seemed  to  find  the  meeting  with 
her  son,  the  vicar,  a  pleasant  change.  Nothing  daunted  by 
my  presence,  she  complained  to  him  that,  with  a  sister-in-law 
who  had  only  been  married  by  a  civil  magistrate,  and  with 
a  nephew  who  had  not  even  been  christened, -she  felt  as  if 
living  among  heathens. 

The  vicar,  who  was  more  liberal  in  his  views,  and  yet  felt 
quite  at  home  in  his  vocation,  pacified  his  mother,  and  she 
concluded  to  take  part  in  the  family  festival. 


WALDFRIED.  2gj 

The  eldest  son  of  the  inspector  of  the  water-works  came 
with  his  two  sisters,  and  the  Major  was  delighted  to  find  that 
this  young  man,  my  godson,  had  determined  to  follow  the  sea. 

Ludwig  told  us  that  a  sea-captain  had  assured  him  that  the 
naval  cadets  were  principally  recruited  from  the  inland  prov- 
inces, while  the  sailors  naturally  came  from  among  the 
dwellers  along  the  sea-coast. 

The  medical  counsellor,  who  had  formerly  been  director  of 
the  jail  in  which  Ludwig  and  Rothfuss  had  been  imprisoned, 
but  who  had  now  retired  on  a  pension,  was  also  among  the 
guests,  and  Rothfuss  was  delighted  beyond  measure  to  meet 
him  again. 

Baron  Arven  did  not  fail  to  offer  his  congratulations.  He 
seemed  quite  surprised  to  find  Annette  dressed  in  colors. 
He  cordially  greeted  us  all,  and  constantly  addressed  Lud- 
wig as  "  Colonel."  He  remained  but  a  short  time,  and  had 
probably  only  visited  us  in  order  to  show  that  it  was  his  de- 
sire to  keep  on  good  terms  with  us,  and  that  he  wished  to 
have  nothing  to  do  with  any  enmities  or  unpleasant  feelings 
which  other  members  of  his  household  might  cherish  towards 
us. 

Ah,  I  thought  I  could  have  given  the  names  of  them  all, 
but  I  find  it  impossible.  The  hearty  greetings  of  so  many 
guests  had  so  fatigued  me,  that  I  slept  until  late  on  Sunday 
morning.  When  I  awoke,  I  heard  a  lovely  chorus,  accom- 
panied by  an  harmonium ;  and,  after  that,  a  quartette  of  fe- 
male voices. 

This  was  the  first  intimation  we  had  of  Conny's  powerful 
and  sympathetic  contralto  voice. 

The  other  voices  I  recognized  at  once.  They  were  Ber- 
tha's, Annette's,  and  Martha's. 

If  it  was  pleasant  to  see  Wolfgang  and  Victor  together,  it 
was,  perhaps,  yet  more  lovely  to  see  the  sympathy  be- 


282  WALDFRIED. 

tween  Conny  and  Bertha;  and  Martella  expressed  my  own 
feelings,  when  she  said,  "  Dear  sister  Conny,  you  did  not 
have  the  happiness  to  know  mother,  but  Bertha  is  very  much 
like  her." 

When  I  at  last  joined  all  my  kindred,  there  was  a  new  sur- 
prise in  store  for  me.  Before  retiring,  I  had  inquired  about 
Julius.  I  do  not  know  whether  you  have  already  observed 
it,  but  he  is  a  special  favorite  of  mine.  He  is  well-off  in 
every  respect — well  provided  for,  both  intellectually  and  in 
regard  to  the  world's  goods,  though  without  great  riches  or 
luxury.  He  is  like  a  healthy  forest-tree ;  without  bright 
blossoms,  but  silently  thriving,  nevertheless.  I  shall  not  in- 
dulge in  further  praise  of  him,  for  he  dislikes  praise. 

And  now  Julius  came  and  told  me  that  Ludwig  had  ob- 
tained a  dispensation  for  the  marriage  of  the  young  people 
without  the  delay  of  publishing  the  banns.  Rontheim  and 
his  wife  had  at  first  been  disinclined  to  consent  to  such 
haste,  but  Ludwig  had  persistently  urged  them.  And 
now  it  was  determined  that  the  wedding  should  take  place 
to-day,  and  that  his  cousin,  the  vicar,  should  marry  them, 
for  Martha  had  insisted  that  they  should  be  married  by  a 
clergyman.  Whereupon  Ludwig  said  :  "  We  are  certainly 
very  tolerant  towards  these  believers." 

I  had  ceased  to  be  surprised  by  anything. 

We  marched  towards  the  church  to  the  sound  of  music, 
the  ringing  of  bells,  and  the  noise  of  cannon,  which  the 
mountains  re-echoed.  But  when  we  reached  the  spring, 
which,  as  I  afterwards  learned,  had  been  decorated  by  Mar- 
tella, I  felt  a  pang.  Why  could  Gustava  not  have  lived  to 
enjoy  this  ?  And  then,  repressing  the  sad  thought,  I  let  joy 
descend  upon  me,  and  said  to  myself,  "  Keep  thyself  erect, 
and  in  health,  so  that  thou  mayest  not  disturb  the  happiness 
of  the  many  who  belong  to  thee." 


WALDFRIED.  283 

'  When  we  reached  the  spring  at  the  edge  of  the  woods,  we 
halted.  What  to  us  had  seemed  impossible,  Ludxvig  had  al- 
ready accomplished.  The  iron  column  was  already  there, 
and  around  it  were  stone  seats,  and  also  a  high  bench,  where 
people  might  lay  aside  their  burdens. 

"  One  learns  these  things  in  America,"  said  Ludwig. 
"  There  they  do  not  care  for  yesterday,  and  do  not  console 
themselves  with  the  hope  of  to-morrow  :  all  must  live  in  the 
present." 

After  leaving  the  church,  where  the  wedding  was  cele- 
brated in  a  simple  manner,  we  marched  in  procession  to  the 
family  woods,  where,  by  Ludwig' s  orders,  great  tables  had 
been  erected ;  and  on  our  way  there  he  told  me  how  clever 
Ikwarte  had  been  in  the  work. 

I  cannot  find  words  to  speak  of  the  great  table  in  the  woods. 

Before  we  seated  ourselves,  we  were  all  obliged  to  remain 
perfectly  still  for  a  short  time.  Ludwig  had  made  arrange, 
rnents  to  have  the  whole  group  photographed.  'They  all  say 
that  I  look  very  sad  in  the  picture  ;  it  may  be  so,  for  I  could 
not  help  thinking,  "  Where  is  Ernst  now  ?  Does  the  sun  that 
now  shines  on  us,  shine  on  him  too  ? "  It  is  especially 
pleasant  to  see  Martella  and  Rothfuss  in  the  background, 
holding  each  other's  hands.  Annette  is  also  in  the  family 
picture ;  her  eyes  are  downcast,  while  Richard  is  looking 
towards  her.  Since  the  loss  of  her  husband,  she  had  never 
laid  aside  her  mourning,  but  to-day  she  wore  colors. 

The  Major's  speech  at  the  dinner  was  even  better  than 
the  vicar's  in  the  church. 

Martella's  best  and  only  treasure  was  Ernst's  prize  cup. 
She  had  placed  it  before  me  on  the  table,  and  Annette  had 
wound  a  garland  of  flowers  around  it. 

After  the  Major's  speech,  the  wine-cup  travelled  the  rounds 
of  the  whole  table. 


284  WALDFRIED. 

After  the  clinking  of  glasses,  and  the  drinking  of  healths, 
the  conversation  had  become  loud  and  excited ;  after  that, 
all  became  as  noiseless  as  in  a  church  during  silent  prayer. 
It  was  one  of  those  pauses  that  ensue  after  the  soul  has 
unburdened  itself,  and  when,  for  a  moment,  there  is  nothing 
new  to  engage  it. 

And  during  that  pause  I  could  hear  Annette  saying  to 
Conny,  "  Yes,  dear  Conny,  I,  as  a  stranger,  beloved  and 
loving  in  return,  can  speak  more  impartially  than  relatives 
can.  I  cannot  describe  the  mother  to  you ;  and  yet  I  have 
seen  her  to-day,  or  at  least  her  counterpart.  When  Julius 
was  standing  at  the  altar,  he  had  her  very  expression.  He 
resembles  her  more  than  any  one — he  has  her  eyes. 

"  Ah,  what  a  pity  that  you  did  not  know  her  !  She  was 
full  of  life,  and  yet  gentle  withal ;  and  when  she  spoke  with 
you,  she  never  looked  to  right  or  left.  She  never  tried  to 
create  an  impression,  and  yet  in  her  presence  one  always 
felt  exalted ;  and  while  her  jjance  rested  on  one,  it  was  im- 
possible to  indulge  in  vile  or  ignoble  thoughts.  What  to 
others  seemed  exalted  and  great,  was  with  her  a  matter  of 
course.  She  practised  and  expressed  all  that  is  highest  as 
easily  as  others  say  «  Good-morning.'  In  her  hands,  even  the 
common-place  became  invested  with  beauty.  She  judged 
of  people  with  love,  and  yet  with  freedom. 

"  Thus,  she  once  said,  « I  felt  inclined  to  be  angry  with 
Baroness  Arven,  because  she  does  not  understand  her  excel- 
lent husband ;  but  he,  on  the  other  hand,  does  not  do  his 
wife  justice.  She  is  created  for  society — for  interesting, 
witty  small  talk — and  he  desires  to  feed  her  soul  with 
thoughts  of  nature  and  Fatherland.  Fanaticism,  in  every 
one  of  its  thousand  shapes,  endeavors  to  force  its  own  con- 
victions on  others,  and  this  is  both  good  and  evil  at  the  same 
time.' 


WALDFRIED.  285 

"  She  said  something  to  me  which  I  have  worn  as  an 
amulet,  and  it  is,  after  all,  but  a  simple  maxim. 

"  When  I  complained  to  her  that  it  was  so  difficult  with 
me  to  fix  the  proper  relation  towards  others,  she  replied  : 

" '  Child,  you  do  not  maintain  the  right  distance  between 
yourself  and  others.  With  every  one,  even  though  it  be  a 
Rothfuss,  you  move  into  most  familiar  contiguity.'  Her 
words  impressed  me  deeply,  and  were  of  great  help  to  me. 

"  She  understood  herself,  and  that  made  every  one  else  feel 
on  sure  ground.  When  one  felt  depressed  or  sad,  without 
hardly  knowing  why,  the  mere  fact  that  you  were  suffering 
was  enough  to  arouse  her  sympathy  :  and  that  would  always 
cure  the  pain. 

"  But  what  avails  it  to  speak  of  separate  disconnected  traits. 
I  might  as  well  try  to  give  you  an  idea  of  a  glorious  sym- 
phony by  singing  a  few  bars  of  one  of  its  melodies.  When 
with  her  I  felt  in  a  higher  world." 

Thus  spoke  Annette.  She  did  not  seem  to  notice  that  all 
were  silent  while  she  was  talking. 

And  then  Bertha  and  Conny  arose  from  their  seats  and 
covered  her  with  their  caresses. 

I  could  not  move  from  the  spot.  I  saw  Richard  rising, 
but  he  sat  down  again  at  once. 

Ludwig  turned  to  him  and  said  :  "  Her  mind  and  her  ex- 
terior correspond.  At  first  she  does  not  impress  one  as  won- 
drously  beautiful ;  but,  day  by  day,  she  grows  in  loveliness." 

This  invocation  of  my  wife  had,  for  the  time  being,  in- 
vested the  festival  with  a  certain  solemn  impressiveness  ;  but 
soon  mirth  burst  all  bounds,  and  the  young  couple  again  be- 
came the  centre  of  joy. 

Rontheim  was  so  happy  that  he  drank  fellowship  with  the 
Major,  with  Ludwig,  and  with  Richard.  A  blissful  feeling  oi 
brotherly  affection  seemed  to  unite  all. 


286  WALDFRIED. 

Rothfuss  afforded  us  great  amusement.  He  wore  a  bou- 
quet in  his  hunter's  coat,  and  another,  with  a  red  ribbon 
streaming  from  it,  in  his  hat.  "  Colonel,"  he  called  out  to 
Ludwig,  "  may  I  be  permitted  to  say  one  word  ?" 

"  Have  you  made  up  your  mind  what  to  wish  for  ?  " 

"  No  ;  this  is  something  else.  All  I  wish  is  that  you  shall 
say  *  Yes,'  and  that  will  do." 

"  What  do  you  mean  ?  " 

"  Listen.  You  are  Colonel  of  the  negroes — of  the  blacks 
— and  there  are  people  who  say  that  negroes  are  not  human 
beings.  Now  listen  !  What  is  it  that  man  alone  can  do, 
and  that  neither  horse  nor  ox  nor  stag  can  do  like  him?" 

"Why,  speak,  to  be  sure." 

"Wrong:  The  beasts  do  speak;  but  we  are  too  stupid 
to  understand  them.  No  ;  I  mean  something  quite  different : 
man  alone  can  drink  wine.  If  the  negroes  can  drink  wine, 
they  are  men  just  as  we  are.  Tell  me,  can  negroes  drink 
wine  ?  " 

"  Yes." 

"  All  right,  then.  Here's  to  the  health  of  our  black 
brethren." 

He  emptied  his  glass  and  was  about  to  walk  away,  when 
Richard  called  out :  "Stop  !  I  ask  all  to -join  me  in  drink- 
ing the  health  of  the  great  man  who  has  solved  the  question 
of  slavery,  in  wine.  Long  live  our  great  philosopher — 
Rothfuss ! " 

It  seemed  as  if  the  cheers  would  never  end,  and  Roth- 
fuss  called  out,  "  To-day  I  will  get  jolly  drunk  seven  times 
at  least — no,  seven  times  is  not  enough  ! " 

When  we  at  last  arose  from  the  table,  I  inquired  for  Roth- 
fuss. I  was  concerned  about  him,  for  he  had  been  acting 
like  a  crazy  man. 


WALDFRIED. 


287 


Ikwarte  said  that,  although  Rothfuss  showed  signs  of  hav- 
ing drunk  too  much,  he  had  gone  up  into  the  woods  and  had 
taken  a  bottle  of  champagne  with  him. 

They  hunted  and  hunted,  and  at  last  found  him.  He  was 
asleep,  and  the  empty  bottle  was  lying  on  the  ground  by  his 
side. 

"  Oh,"  he  complained,  "  why  did  you  wake  me  ?  I  died 
so  happy.  To  die  drunk  is  the  best  way,  after  all ;  now, 
I've  got  to  die  over  again.  No  matter ;  I'll  wait  for  master, 
and  then  we  will  ride  to  heaven  in  double  harness ;  or,  if 
the  parson  is  right  in  what  he  says,  to  hell.  It's  all  the  same 
to  me  ;  I  shall  stay  with  master." 

Then  he  embraced  Ludwig,  and  repeatedly  said  to  him  ; 
"  Let  me  go  to  jail  once  more  for  you."  They  managec 
to  get  him  home  without  further  trouble. 


CHAPTER  XII. 

THE  newly  married  couple  left ;  but  the  young  people 
were  averse  to  breaking  up,  and  kept  up  the  dance 
until  long  after  nightfall.  A  little  circumstance  occurred 
which  greatly  excited  Martella. 

Julius's  friends  had  come  in  their  smart  hunter's  suits ; 
even  Rautenkron  had  overcome  his  scruples,  and  attended 
the  festival,  although  he  did  not  join  us  at  table. 

We  were  told  that  Rautenkron  had  always  been  angry  that 
Martella  was  permitted  to  keep  her  own  dog,  and  Pincher, 
moreover,  had  a  special  aversion  to  Rautenkron. 

At  the  same  time  that  Rothfuss  was  being  looked  up,  a 
terrible  barking  and  yelling  arose.  The  strange  dogs  had 
fallen  upon  Pincher,  and  it  was  even  said  that  Rautenkron 
had  called  out  to  his  dog,  "  At  him,  Turenne  !  Break  his  neck 
for  him!" 

When  they  at  last  succeeded  in  separating  the  dogs,  Pincher 
was  dead,  and  Martella' s  lamentations  were  heart-rending. 
She  indulged  in  expressions  that  I  would  not  have  expected 
of  her :  "  It  was  the  only  living  thing  that  belonged  to  me, 
and  that  Ernst  had  left  me.  Now  I  am  all  alone  in  the  wide 
world  ! " 

When  I  spoke  to  her,  she  hastily  said,  "  Forgive  me ;  I 
am  sometimes  very  silly." 

She  could  not  bear  the  sight  of  the  dead  dog,  and  begged 
that  he  might  be  buried  in  the  woods. 

In  the  meantime,  Rautenkron  was  explaining  to  Wolf- 
gang that  his  ambition  to  become  a  forester  was  based  on  a 


WALDFRIED. 


289 


false  ideal ;  that  dealing  in  rags  was  a  much  prettier  occu- 
pation. For  then  one  need  know  nothing  of  the  people  who 
once  wore  the  rags ;  but  that  the  forest  people  were  all 
cheats,  and,  if  they  could,  would  convert  the  trees  into  as 
great  cheats  as  they  were. 

We  were  still  engaged  watching  the  dancers,  and  it  was 
a  great  pleasure  to  see  Wolfgang  dance  with  Clotilde,  the 
Major's  daughter.  Wolfgang  arranged  an  American  dance, 
which  was  so  wild  that  it  evidently  originated  with  the 
Indians. 

The  young  Alsatian  couple  also  joined  in  the  dance. 

Carl  had  allowed  Marie  to  dance  with  another  one  of  the 
village  lads,  and  stood  holding  the  hand  of  Martella,  whom 
he  had  led  to  the  dancing  floor.  She  said  that  she  did  not 
wish  to  dance,  and  that  for  tenfold  reasons  she  ought  not 
to,  especially  as  her  betrothed  was  far  away.  But  all  per- 
suaded her.  Rothfuss — who,  having  been  aroused  by  the 
music,  had  gathered  himself  up  again,  and  was  no\v  seated 
at  the  table  by  the  side  of  Ikwarte — was  especially  anxious 
that  she  should  dance. 

When  Martella  began  to  dance,  a  great  change  seemed  to 
come  over  her.  There  was  something  uncanny  in  her  features 
and  in  her  eyes. 

Nearly  all  of  us  left  the  dancing  floor,  and  Annette  re- 
quested Martella  to  go  with  us. 

"  Oh,  no,"  she  exclaimed,  while  her  eyes  rolled  and  her 
lips  quivered ;  "  I  have  now  begun,  and  I  cannot  stop  so 
soon.  Good-night,  my  lady." 

She  remained,  and  all  were  filled  with  admiration  of  her 
light  movements  and  her  wonderful  tours  de  force. 

"  Why,  you  can  jump  about  like  a  squirrel,  and  fly  like  a 
bird,"  said  Rothfuss. 

"  So  I  can,"  cried  Martella.  "  Do  you  know  how  it  is 
19 


290 


WALDFRIED. 


when  one  of  the  cuckoo's  brood  leaves  its  nest  in  which  the 
simple  tomtits  have  fed  it  ?  None  of  you  have  ever  seen  it, 
but  I  have.  I,  too,  am  one  of  the  cuckoo's  brood.  It  flies 
away — it  flies  away.  Play  on,  fiddlers.  Let  us  have  the 
cuckoo's  song.  Keep  quiet,  all  of  you  ;  I  will  dance  for 
you." 

And  then  she  began  to  dance,  raising  herself  and  bending 
towards  the  ground  again  as  if  she  really  had  wings  ;  and  all 
were  delighted. 

When  she  stopped  all  cried  out,  "  Again  !  again  !  "  and 
the  Alsatian  exclaimed,  "Da-capo  /" 

Ikwarte  arose  and  said,  "Miss,  do  not  let  them  abuse 
your  good-nature  ;  do  not  let  them  make  a  fool  of  you. 
There  is  enough  of  it." 

"This  is  not  your  affair,  "  exclaimed  Carl,' "  you  Prussian  ! 
— you  starveling  !  " 

"  I  have  nothing  to  say  t.o  you,"  answered  Ikwarte;  "you 
are  not  worth  answering." 

Martella  danced  again,  to  the  great  delight  of  all. 

But  while  she  was  dancing,  one  could  see  that  it  took 
several  of  the  lads  to  hold  Carl. 

When  the  dance  was  over,  Carl  rushed  up  to  Ikwarte,  and 
cried : 

41  You  cursed  Prussian  !  why  do  you  think  that  I  am  not 
worthy  of  being  answered  ?  " 

"  I  have  no  respect  for  a  man  who  would  put  himself  in 
the  way  of  being  captured." 

"Is  that  it?" 

"  Carl,  take  none  of  the  Prussian's  impudence,"  called 
out  Martella.  "  It  is  the  Prussians'  fault  that  my  Ernst 
had  to  go  forth  into  misery.  Pay  him  up  for  it ! " 

And  then  followed  terrible  scuffling  and  fighting. 

Ikwarte  seemed,  at  first,  unable  to  realize  that  he  was 


WALDFRIED.  2QI 

actually  involved  in  a  fight ;  but  when  he  saw  that  matters 
were  in  earnest,  he  seized  Carl,  and  held  him  as  firmly  as  in 
a  vise.  Rothfuss  urged  them  on,  for  fighting  was  his  delight. 
They  were  at  last  separated,  and  then  Martella  threw  herself 
on  the  ground,  tore  her  hair,  and  cried  out,  "  It  is  all  my 
fault !  It  is  my  fault !  I  am  ruined  !  " 

Rothfuss  succeeded  in  leading  her  away.  She  tried  to 
escape  from  him  and  to  run  out  into  the  woods,  saying, 
"  Anything  rather  than  go  back  home,  for  I  don't  deserve 
to  go  there." 

He  succeeded,  at  last,  in  inducing  her  to  enter  the  house 
of  Carl's  mother.  Accompanied  by  Annette  and  Conny,  I 
went  there  to  bring  her  home,  and  was  startled  when  I  saw 
what  a  change  had  come  over  the  poor  child.  Nevertheless, 
her  agitation  had  not  disfigured  her;  she  seemed  more 
lovely  than  ever — almost  supernaturally  beautiful. 

"  O  father  !  "  she  cried.  "  Indeed,  I  have  no  longer  the 
right  to  use  those  words.  I  knew  it ;  I  felt  a  presentiment 
of  it  all,  and  I  wanted  to  go  away.  Why  didn't  you  let  me 
go?  I  don't  belong  here,  and  now  less  than  ever.  The 
worst  that  could  have  happened  to  me  has  happened.  I 
have  relapsed  into  savage  folly.  And  yet  she  who  is  up 
there  said,  '  Do  not  lose  faith  in  yourself  and  in  your  good- 
ness, and  you  can  accomplish  everything.'  The  worst  pun- 
ishment is  mine,  for  I  have  lost  faith  in  myself.  I  may  be- 
come crazed  again  any  moment ;  I  no  longer  believe  in 
myself." 

When  Conny  and  Annette  spoke  to  her  in  their  kind  way, 
she  exclaimed,  "  Every  kind  word  of  yours  gives  me  new 
pain.  Scold  me,  beat  me,  kick  me — I  deserve  such  treatment, 
and  shall  find  it  less  painful  than  kind  words  that  I  do  not 
deserve.  I  was  so  happy  in  thinking  that  I  had  accom- 
plished all,  but  it  is  not  so.  Now  I  see  how  much  love  and 


292  WALDFRIED. 

respect  you  all  had  for  me  ;  and  when  Ernst  returns  I  shall 
tell  him  everything,  He  may  scold  me  heartily,  for  I  have 
deserved  it." 

We  conducted  her  to  the  house,  where  we  found  Ikwarte, 
whose  appearance  seemed  the  very  opposite  of  what  it 
usually  was.  He  seemed  as  if  crushed,  and  continually 
said,  "  Colonel,  I  admit  that  it  was  highly  improper  on  my 
part,  especially  as  it  happened  in  a  strange  land." 

Ludwig  took  it  all  in  good  part,  and  laughingly  remarked 
that  North  and  South  Germany  had  again  been  scuffling 
with  each  other.  Then  he  apologized  for  Ikwarte,  by  say- 
ing that  he  could  not  stand  wine ;  that,  except  when  taking 
communion,  he  had  not  tasted  a  drop  of  wine  up  to  his 
twentieth  year. 

Ikwarte  stood  by,  nodding  his  assent  and  pulling  his  red 
mustache.  After  that,  he  went  off  with  Rothfuss. 

In  the  meanwhile,  Martella  sat  crouching  on  the  floor  in 
a  corner  of  the  room. 

Ludwig  softly  said  to  me,  "Now  is  the  time  to  let  Mar- 
tella tell  us  who  and  whence  she  is." 

I  thought  that  as  the  child  was  overmuch  agitated,  it 
might  be  better  to  wait  until  the  next  day ;  but  he  insisted 
that  this  was  the  proper  time. 


CHAPTER  XIII. 

LUDWIG  went  up  to  Martella  and  said,  "  Martella, 
there  is  a  woman  in  America  who  knows  you." 

Martella  jumped  to  her  feet  and,  brushing  her  hair  from 
her  face  with  both  hands,  asked,  "  How  do  you  know  that  ?" 

"  I  will  tell  you  how,  when  you  have  told  your  history. 
Will  you  do  so  ?  " 

"  I  will.  It  is  well  and  proper  that  I  should.  But  no  one 
shall  be  present  but  you  and  father.  Forgive  me,  kind 
ladies,"  she  said,  addressing  Conny  and  Annette  in  an  un- 
wonted tone.  "  I  can  only  tell  this  to  father  and  to  brother." 

She  drank  a  few  drops  of  water,  and  then,  seating  her- 
self behind  the  table  that  was  next  to  the  wall,  began  : 

"  I  can  only  remember  as  far  back  as  my  sixth  year.  I 
have  no  distinct  recollection  of  anything  that  happened  be- 
fore that  time.  We  lived  in  a  city  on  the  Rhine, — I  believe 
it  is  called  Mayence.  There  are  two  sorts  of  soldiers  there — 
Prussians  and  Austrian s.  The  Austrian s  have  white  coats, 
like  the  cousin  who  once  visited  us  with  Baron  Arven.  Un- 
der the  small  golden  mirror  in  my  mother's  room — on  the 
opposite  wall,  there  was  quite  a  large  glass  that  reached 
from  the  ceiling  to  the  floor — there  was  a  portrait  of  a  hand- 
some officer,  whom  I  believe  I  have  already  seen.  My 
mother  always  addressed  him  as  '  Prince,'  and  he  laughed 
when  she  did  so.  His  eyes  were  of  a  light  blue ;  I  cannot 
recall  any  of  his  other  features.  My  mother  would  often  say 
to  me,  while  she  pointed  to  the  picture,  '  Martella,  do  not 
forget,  this  is  your  father.  He  has  great  love  for  me,  and 


294 


WALDFRIED. 


for  you  too.'  It  was  a  long  while  before  I  knew  how  my 
mother  gained  her  living.  She  would  sleep  until  near  mid-day, 
and  would  often  stand  on  her  toes,  or  walk  on  them  around 
the  room.  Then  she  would  suddenly  let  herself  fall  to  the 
ground,  spring  up  again  and  take  long  steps.  Then  she 
would  place  herself  before  the  mirror,  and  bow  and  kiss  her 
hands  to  herself.  Once  she  looked  so  lovely,  with  a  thin 
gauze-like  robe  about  her  body,  and  various  kinds  of  gauze 
over  that.  She  looked  just  like  a  beautiful  bird,  and 
almost  like  the  peacock  down  in  the  garden.  And  I  was 
prettily  dressed  also.  I  had  wings  on  my  shoulders,  and 
they  had  two  mirrors  for  me,  so  that  I  might  see  how  I 
looked  in  front,  and  in  the  back.  And  I  had  golden  shoes 
on,  and  had  to  learn  how  to  spread  out  my  hands  and  then 
bring  them  together  quite  slowly.  With  a  girdle  around  my 
waist — it  was  golden,  and  studded  with  diamonds — I  floated  in 
the  air,  and  could  hear  the  people  screaming  with  delight 
and  clapping  their  hands ;  but  I  could  not  see  where  I  was, 
or  how  many  people  were  there.  We  rode  home  in  a  car- 
riage— I  can  recollect  that,  but  cannot  remember  what  hap- 
pened for  some  time  afterward.  One  day,  my  mother 
showed  me  a  man  who  wore  a  green  dressing-gown  and  had 
curled  hair ;  then  she  said  to  me  :  '  My  child,  this  is  your 
father  now — you  must  say  "father"  to  him.' 

"  He  spoke  to  me,  but  I  could  not  understand  what  he 
said ;  and  mother  said,  '  The  child  is  worth  ten  thousand 
florins,  and  can  earn  a  great  deal  of  money.' 

"  About  that  time,  I  often  heard  the  word  '  America,'  and, 
as  I  was  told  to  call  everybody  « uncle,'  I  once  inquired  where 
'  Uncle  America  lived  ? '  whereupon  they  laughed  very  loud, 
and  the  man  with  the  curled  hair,  whom  I  had  to  call  father, 
kissed  me. 

"  There  was  a  maid  living  with  us,  who  would  always  say, 


WALDFRIED. 


295 


'You  poor  child,  you  must  go  to  America,  among  the  sav- 
ages. O  you  poor  child  ! ' 

"  And  one  morning,  I  heard  them  say  that  we  would  go 
to  America  that  day.  Down  by  the  Rhine  there  was  a  great 
crowd  and  noise,  and  when  we  were  on  the  vessel,  some  one 
said,  '  Keep  your  seat  here,  or  you  will  be  left  behind  ? ' 
And  when  all  was  confusion  on  shipboard,  I  stealthily  crept 
on  shore,  and  hid  myself  behind  some  hogsheads  in  which 
the  bees  were  humming ;  they  did  not  trouble  me.  I  heard 
the  ringing  of  the  bell,  and  the  paddling  of  the  wheels — 
but  did  not  move.  I  had  a  little  satchel  full  of  cakes,  which 
I  ate. 

"  The  embroidered  satchel  had  been  presented  to  me  by 
the  Prince,  whose  picture  hung  under  the  mirror.  I  still 
own  it ;  it  is  the  only  memento  I  have  of  that  time.  And 
we  had  a  dog  whose  name  was  Pincher,  and  for  that  reason 
I  called  my  poor  departed  dog  by  the  same  name. 

"  When  at  last  evening  came,  I  crept  out  of  my  hiding- 
place,  and  saw  a  great  crowd  gathered  about  an  old  woman 
who  was  sitting  on  the  ground  and  lamenting  :  «  They  have 
purposely  left  me  behind ;  they  did  not  want  to  take  me  with 
them ! ' 

"  The  people  told  her  they  would  help  her,  and  would 
give  her  money  that  she  might  follow  her  relatives.  But  she 
always  replied,  *  No,  I  will  not  do  that ;  they  do  not  want 
me.'  And  they  gave  the  old  woman  money  and  went  on 
their  way.  And  when  they  had  all  gone,  I  said  to  h^r, 
'  Take  me  with  you ;  I  am  worth  ten  thousand  florins.' 

"  Then  she  laughed  and  said,  '  Indeed  you  are  ! '  And 
then  I  told  her  that  I  had  secretly  remained  behind — that  I 
did  not  want  to  go  to  America. 

"  She  laughed  again,  and  took  me  on  her  lap,  saying :  '  That 
is  right.  We  two  will  stay  together.' 


296 


WALDFRIED. 


"And  we  wandered  far  and  near,  and  she  told  every  one 
that  I  was  her  granddaughter.  We  received  many  gifts, 
and  every  one  told  me  that  I  was  so  pretty  ;  and  I  told  the  old 
woman — her  name  was  Jaegerlies — that  I  had  wings,  and  she 
said,  '  I  believe  it :  they  will  grow  again  when  I  am  dead.' 
But  I  am  telling  you  silly  stuff — am  I  not  ?  " 

"  No,  no  ;  go  on." 

"  At  last  we  reached  yonder  forest,  and  then  Jaegerlies 
said,  '  Let  us  stay  here.'  She  had  acquaintances  who  lived 
in  the  neighborhood,  but  she  had  no  desire  to  meet  any 
one,  as  they  always  laughed  at  her  because  her  folks  had 
left  her  behind  when  they  emigrated  to  America. 

"  The  gifts  that  we  had  received,  had  enabled  us  to  buy 
cooking  utensils,  coverings  for  our  moss  beds,  and  a  goat ; 
and  of  food  we  could  always  have  plenty. 

"  The  summers  were  pleasant,  but  the  winters  were  not 
so.  We  caught  many  birds,  which  served  as  food. 

"  I  was  also  sent  to  school,  and  it  was  quite  humilating  to 
me  to  be  always  told  that  I  was  a  '  Jew  girl.'  I  did  not 
know  what  was  meant  by  Jew,  but  I  knew,  that  it  was  in- 
tended as  a  term  of  disgrace.  I  am  not  sure,  but  I  think 
my  mother  was  a  Catholic. 

"  And  thus  I  grew  up  and  could  wield  the  axe  as  well  as 
the  strongest  wood-cutter ;  and  no  one  dared  to  lay  a  finger 
on  me. 

"  You  might  blind-fold  me,  and  I  could,  by  my  sense  of 
smell,  recognize  trees  or  their  leaves.  I  carried  a  serpent's 
egg  on  my  person ;  I  had  found  it  one  morning  between 
eleven  and  twelve,  and  had  pocketed  it.  I  had  also  a  gift 
of  finding  wild  honey,  and  the  bees  never  harmed  me  when 
I  took  the  combs.  I  was  once  employed  that  way,  when 
Ernst  came  up  to  me.  He  acted  as  if  he  were  about  to 
punisii  me  for  what  I  had  done ;  but  I  told  him  that  this 


WALDFRIED. 


297, 


was  not  breaking  of  the  laws  of  the  forest,  and  that  it  was  not 
poaching.  And  then  he  said  to  me,  '  You  are  wild  honey 
yourself.' 

"  Thus  Ernst  found  me  and  brought  me  here,  where  I  now 
am.  But  I  do  not  deserve  it.  They  say  that  Ernst  is  in 
Algiers,  with  the  wild  Turks.  Give  me  some  money  that  I 
may  go  to  him — I  can  find  him. 

"  But  tell  me  now,  Ludwig,  how  do  you  know  that  my 
mother  is  in  America  ?  " 

"  I  know  nothing  of  it ;  I  simply  guessed  so,  because  you 
always  have  such  a  fear  of  America." 

"  So  you  are  the  son  of  such  parents — and  yet  can  lie  ? 
Your  mother  in  heaven  will  never  forgive  you  for  that." 

Ludwig  was  moved  by  this  apostrophe,  and  asked  Martella 
to  forgive  him.  She  nodded  assent  and  shook  hands  with 
him  and  with  me,  saying  at  the  same  time  :  "  Father,  I  shall 
do  nothing  more  but  what  you  tell  me  to  do.  I  shall  never 
again  act  of  my  own  free  will." 

"  Were  you  always  called  Martella  ?  "  inquired  Ludwig. 

"  No." 

"  How,  then  ?  " 

"  Conradine." 

"Who  gave  you  the  name  of  Martella?" 

"  Jaegerlies." 

"Why?" 

"Because,  she  said,  '  No  one  will  know  you  by  that  name, 
and  if  they  seek  you  they  cannot  find  you.'  " 

"But  how  did  she  chance  on  that  name  ?" 

"  That  you  ought  to  have  asked  her.  And  that  is  enough. 
Good-night." 

Martella  walked  away. 

Ludwig  afterward  told  me  that  lie  had  been  making  in- 
quiries over  in  the  valley  where  Jaegerlies  had  been  living. 


^298 


WALDFRIED. 


He  could  not  understand  why  we  had  not  done  so  long  be- 
fore. Now  it  might  be  very  difficult  to  discover  anything, 
as  Jaegerlies  had  died  a  few  days  before. 

He  had  learned,  from  the  neighbors,  that  she  often  spoke 
of  America  in  a  mysterious  and  indistinct  manner,  and  that, 
together  with  Martella's  aversion  to  the  very  mention  of 
America,  caused  him  to  question  her  in  the  way  he  had 
done. 


CHAPTER  XIV. 

IN  spite  of  Martella's  and  Ikwarte's  trouble,  the  great  feast 
was  pleasantly  remembered  in  our  house  and  throughout 
the  village.  Annette  said  :  "  Whenever  I  gave  a  large 
entertainment,  it  always  grieved  me  to  see  the  many  people, 
who  had  just  been  together  so  cheerful  and  so  lively,  sud- 
denly disappear.  And  it  was  always  especially  agreeable  to 
me  when  several  of  my  more  intimate  friends  would  remain. 
We  would  then  gather  together  for  a  little  quiet  enjoyment, 
and  so  a  smaller  and  more  congenial  circle  succeeded  the 
larger  one ;  for  that  reason,  I  think  some  of  us  ought  to  re- 
main here." 

I  saw  Richard  looking  at  Annette^  and  it  was  the  first  con- 
tented, happy  glance  I  had  ever  seen  him  direct  towards  her. 
He  had  intended  to  leave,  but  now  concluded  to  stay.  It 
seemed  as  if,  in  spite  of  themselves,  they  had  always  chanced 
on  points  on  which  they  could  not  agree,  but  now  at  last, 
and  to  their  great  delight,  found  themselves  in  accord. 

Annette  had  greatly  changed.  She  wotild  no  longer  sud- 
denly bound  from  one  subject  to  another.  Her  manner  had 
become  calmer.  She  had  learned  how  to  put  her  questions 
modestly  and  yet  firmly,  and  also  how  to  be  quiet. 

Once  she  said,  "Martella  has  told  us  what  is  the  se- 
verest punishment.  It  is  this  :  to  lose  faith  in  one's  self, 
and  to  learn  that  excitement  and  weakness  place  us  in  the 
hands  of  chance  or  of  strangers,  and  cause  us  to  express  the 
very  things  that  we  have  desired  most  of  all  to  keep  within 
ourselves." 


WALDFRIED. 

The  festival  brought  painful  consequences  to  Rothfuss, 
Ikwartc,  and  Carl,  as  well  as  to  Martella.  They  went  about 
without  saying  a  word,  and  Annette,  who  was  anxious  to  help, 
and  quick  to  sympathize  with  others,  tried  her  best  to  cheer 
them  up. 

One  morning,  we  were  sitting  in  the  garden.  Richard  and 
Conny  had  gone  over  to  the  village,  and  Ludwig  said  to  An- 
nette, "  We  do  not  know  how  to  thank  you  for  having  given 
my  wife  so  true  and  feeling  a  description  of  mother." 

Ar  .':te  now  expressed  her  delight  with  Conny,  and  when 
she  asked  Ludwig  how  he  had  made  her  acquaintance,  he 
said, 

"  If  father  does  not  object  to  hear  the  story  over  again,  I 
will  tell  you." 

I  consented,  and  Ludwig  went  on  : 

"The  Americans  have  one  thing  in  common  with  the 
old  Romans ;  whenever  they  found  a  city,  they  provide, 
above  all  things,  for  pure  water.  There  happened  at  the 
time  to  be  a  lively  discussion  in  regard  to  the  building  of 
water- works.  I  hoped  that  the  contract  would  be  assigned 
to  me,  and  travelled  about  for  some  distance  through  the 
neighboring  country,  in  order  to  find  'the  best  springs.  A 
mountain  brook  whose  stream  could  easily  be  led  into  an- 
other, seemed  to^me  best  adapted  for  the  purpose. 

"  I  followed  it  up  to  its  source,  and  was  fortunate  enough  to 
find  rich  and  copious  springs.  I  had  been  wandering  all  day, 
when,  towards  evening,  I  saw  a  log-cabin  half-way  down  the 
hillside.  I  walked  up  to  it,  and  at  last  reached  the  house. 
The  doors  were  open,  and  a  dog,  that  seemed  to  be  the  only 
guardian  of  the  place,  jumped  towards  me  as  if  glad  to  wel- 
come me.  I  went  into  the  entry  and  called  out,  but  no  one 
answered.  I  opened  the  door,  and  found  a  cosy,  pretty 
room. 


WALDFRIED. 


301 


"  Mother  always  used  to  say  that  the  walls  of  a  room  are 
an  index  of  the  culture  of  its  inmates.  There  were  two  en- 
gravings, copied  from  the  paintings  of  the  great  masters,  an 
open  piano,  and  above  it  a  bust  of  Mozart.  I  ventured  to 
approach  the  piano.  Mozart's  G  minor  symphony  lay  open 
on  the  music-desk. 

"Although  I  had  not  touched  an  instrument  for  a  great 
while,  I  felt  a  great  longing  to  touch  the  keys. 

"  I  began  to  play,  and  felt  as  happy  as  a  skilful  swimmer 
breasting  the  waves.  I  played  on  and  on,  forgetting  where  I 
was ;  and  when  I  stopped  and  looked  around,  I  saw  a  fine- 
looking  old  man  and  a  lovely,  blooming  maiden  standing  in 
the  doorway. 

"  I  suppose  I  need  not  tell  you  more. 

"I  remained  in  the  hospitable  house  over-night,  and  soon 
discovered  that  my  host  was  a  refugee,  and  had  been  a  com- 
rade of  father's.  Constance,  or,  as  she  was  familiarly  called, 
Conny,  became  my  betrothed,  and  afterwards  my  wife  ;  and 
our  son,  who  was  born  on  the  anniveasary  of  Mozart's 
birthday,  received  his  name. 

"  Our  marriage  is  a  happy  one,  blest  with  perfect  harmony 
in  thought  and  feeling. 

"  When  I  entered  the  army  my  wife  merely  said, '  You  are 
doing  right.' 

"  When  my  eldest  son  died,  she  was  deeply  afflicted,  but 
soon  resigned  herself  to  the  thought  that  all  must  make  sac- 
rifices. 

"  I  was  not  a  good  commander — not  that  I  was  deficient 
in  courage  or  endurance  ;  but  soldiering  must  be  studied 
just  like  other  things.  My  long  experience  in  topographi- 
cal studies,  was,  however,  of  great  use  to  me.  I  had  a  quick 
eye  for  the  advantages  and  the  disadvantages  of  positions 
on  our  side,  or  that  of  the  enemy.  On  the  other  hand,  the 


302 


WALDFRIED. 


Southerners  had  much  better  leaders  than  myself  and  many 
others  who,  like  me,  had  not  studied  the  art  of  war.  . 

"  Now  you  know  the  most  important  facts ;  and  I  must 
stop,  for  I  see  Conny  and  Richard  coming." 

They  came,  and  Annette  had  enough  self-command  not  to 
betray  what  she  had  just  heard. 


CHAPTER  XV. 

IP)  ICHARD  and  Ludwig  left  with  the  intention  of  enter- 
JLV  ing  Wolfgang  at  the  forester's  school.  Richard  and 
Annette  now  understood  one  another,  and  Richard's  parting 
words  were  :  "  I  think  you  will  do  well  to  remain  here  for 
some  time.  Your  stay  will  be  of  benefit  to  yourself  as  well 
as  to  others." 

Annette  made  no  answer,  but  I  could  not  help  observing 
how  her  breast  heaved  with  emotion. 

She  and  Conny  seemed  also  to  be  on  excellent  terms 
with  each  other. 

Annette  now  understood  how  the  intellectual  life  can  be 
kept  up,  and  even  developed,  in  solitude,  and,  as  usual,  she 
was  always  delighted  to  find  words  in  which  to  couch  a  new 
impression.  She  said  to  me,  "  There  are  hermits  of  educa- 
tion as  well  as  of  religion,  and  they  attain  the  highest  de- 
gree of  development." 

She  often  expressed  her  admiration  of  Conny's  light 
hair,  and  endeavored  to  persuade  her  that  it  might  be  dressed 
in  a  far  more  effective  style  than  the  braids  in  which  she  wore 
it.  Conny,  however,  did  not  care  to  act  on  this  suggestion 
of  Annette's. 

On  his  return,  Ludwig  told  me  that  he  would  not  be  able 
to  remain  through  the  summer,  unless  he  had  some  fixed  oc- 
cupation. He  was  anxious  to  carry  out  a  plan  for  a  new 
and  large  builder's  mill.  He  would  be  willing  to  superintend 
the  erection  of  the  building,  but  did  not  have  enough  ready 
money  to  undertake  the  enterprise.  When  I  told  him  that  I 
was  no  better  off  than  he,  Annette  asked  that  she  might  be 


304 


WALDFRIED. 


permitted  to  advance  the  sum.  I  declined,  but,  as  Ludwig 
at  once  accepted  her  offer,  I  could  make  no  further  objec- 
tion. 

"  Father,"  exclaimed  Ludwig,  with  unwonted  enthusiasm, 
"  I  firmly  believe  that  water-power  will  assist  us  to  solve  the 
great  labor  question. 

*'  What  we  are  about  to  undertake  makes  me,  in  many  re- 
spects, feel  both  free  and  happy.  I  hope  to  be  able  to  set 
the  two  great  levers  of  our  age — enterprise  and  economy — 
in  operation.  I  felt  the  so-called  social  question  as  a  per- 
sonal affront.  I  asked  myself,  '  Are  you  so  old  that  you  need 
fear  a  great  change  ?  In  your  younger  years,  you  felt  offend- 
ed when  you  heard  the  old  ones  say,  that  is  overdone,  or 
Utopian  or  demagogical,  or  whatever  it  might  be,  but  now 
you  use  these  very  terms  yourself.'  I  honestly  examined 
myself  in  this,  and  felt  obliged  to  act  as  I  have  done. 

"  If  we  domesticate  industry,  and  open  new  sources  of 
profit  to  those  who  dwell  in  the  neighborhood,  we  are 
strengthening  the  best  possession  we  have  in  this  woodland 
region — our  love  of  home. 

"  Love  of  home  is  a  life  artery,  which,  if  not  killed,  is  at 
least  compressed  by  emigration. 

"  The  old  maxim  advises  us  to  remain  at  home  and  gain  a 
living  among  those  whom  we  know  best.  We  extend  its  ap- 
plication by  enabling  others  to  do  as  we  would  do.  We 
must  learn  how  to  keep  up  with  the  progress  of  the  age.  At 
first,  we  sent  rough  logs  down  the  stream,  towards  Holland ; 
now  we  send  planks ;  and  after  this  we  must  send  them 
doors  and  window-frames  and  steps." 

It  was  a  pleasure  to  hear  him  explain  his  plans.  He  was 
determined  that  the  people  hereabouts  should  have  better 
doors  and  windows,  steps  and  flooring,  than  ever  before. 
Besides  that,  he  would  see  that  there  should  be  pretty  de- 


WALDFRIED. 


305 


signs  for  balconies.  "The  result  of  all  which  will  be,  that 
both  we  and  our  countrymen  will  make  lots  of  money.  Ac- 
tions which  are  for  the  benefit  of  the  general  public  will,  if 
managed  rightly,  turn  out  to  the  profit  of  the  individual." 

Annette  wanted  to  know  whether  he  would  not  de- 
stroy all  individuality,  by  attempting  to  provide  people  with 
ready-made  houses  just  as  they  could  buy  ready-made 
clothes. 

"That  is  what  I  propose  to  do,"  exclaimed  Ludwig,  cheer- 
fully. "  All  should  be  uniform,  for,  after  all,  every  one  wears 
his  coat  in  his  own  peculiar  way.  And  I  think  I  can  antici- 
pate another  objection  you  are  about  to  make — that  the  ma- 
chines will  disturb  the  landscape." 

"  That  is  my  meaning  exactly." 

"  And  there  are  thousands  who  think  just  as  you  do.  But 
mankind  must  accustom  themselves  to  new  ideas.  It  is  the 
question  of  spinning-wheel  or  sewing-machine  over  again. 
Just  as,  in  old  times,  the  spinning-wheel  occupied  the  most 
exalted  station  in  the  household,  so  does  the  sewing- 
machine  now  occupy  the  place  of  honor ;  and  the  spirit  of 
beauty  and  the  force  of  custom  will  soon  adorn  the  latter  as 
it  once  did  the  former — although  that  was  a  simple  ma- 
chine, while  this  is  a  complicated  one." 

"Thanks,"  said  Annette,  extending  her  hand  to  Ludwig  ; 
"  you  are  really  a  citizen  of  the  new  world." 

Ludwig's  plan  was  to  connect  an  island  which  lay  in  the 
valley-stream  with  the  mainland,  by  blasting  out  and  turning 
in  some  rocks  from  shore.  He  would  thus  be  able  to  turn  what 
had  heretofore  been  useless,  to  good  account,  and  at  the  same 
time  increase  the  water-power.  He  went  to  work  in  true  Amer- 
ican style,  and  was  delighted  when  I  told  him  that  the  raftsmen 
were  not  allowed  to  pass  down  the  stream  except  during  two 
hours  of  the  day,  and  that  we  could  thus  arrange  our  time  in 


306  WALDFRIED. 

such  a  way  that  they  would  not  interfere  with  us.  He  felt 
pleased  that  the  people  were  no  longer  allowed  to  dilly-dally 
about  their  work,  but  were  obliged  to  make  use  of  an  appointed 
time.  He  decided  that  the  time  for  floating  the  rafts  past 
the"  island  should  be  fixed  for  the  dinner  hour,  when  the  work- 
men in  the  mill  were  taking  their  rest. 

"Ah,"  said  he  at  last,  "  I  can  remember  the  very  minute 
when  mother  explained  to  me  what  work  really  is.  We 
were  standing  at  the  blacksmith's  shop  when  she  said  to 
me,  '  Look,  Ludwig,  this  pound  of  iron  is  worth  but  a  few 
groschen,  but  a  pound  of  watch-springs  is  worth  many  hun- 
dred thalers.  This  shows  you  what  labor  is.'  The  recol- 
lection of  that  moment  at  the  blacksmith's  shop  has  re- 
mained alive  in  my  memory  ever  since.  I  can  yet  see  the 
blacksmith's  journeyman  at  his  work,  forging  the  spikes  with 
which  the  rafts  were  held  together,  and  while  he  was  shap- 
ing one  spike  the  other  was  heating  in  the  fire.  I  have  al- 
ways worked  on  the  same  principle." 

We  were  visited  by  Annette's  brother,  who  was  just  from 
Wildbad,  and  told  us  that  on  the  day  previous  the  French 
Ambassador  had  left  there  under  instructions  to  visit  the 
King  of  Prussia;  and,  it  was  further  rumored,  to  bring  it 
about  that  no  German  Prince  should  ascend  the  Spanish 
throne.  There  was  great  excitement  everywhere,  and  he 
thought  it  hazardous  to  invest  large  sums  in  new  enterprises ; 
especially  so  for  those  who  were  near  the  French  borders. 
The  air  seemed  heavy  as  with  an  impending  storm,  and  no 
one  could  tell  how  soon  the  cloud  might  burst. 

Napoleon  would  be  obliged  to  justify  the  new  lease  of 
power  that  the  plebiscite  had  given  him ;  he  would  find  it 
necessary  to  furnish  amusement  for  the  French,  who  looked 
upon  a  war  with  us  as  a  most  agreeable  diversion.  Any- 
thing would  serve  him  as  an  excuse. 


WALDFRIED. 


307 


For  this  reason,  he  thought  it  his  duty  to  dissuade  Annette 
from  joining  in  our  enterprise.  He  was  willing,  however, 
to  advance  the  required  sum  out  of  his  own  funds,  for,  after 
all,  there  must  be  peace  at  last;  and,  if  the  undertaking 
should  prove  successful,  it  was  his  intention  to  transfer  either 
the  whole  or  a  half  of  his  share  to  Annette. 

Ludwig  wanted  to  employ  none  but  discharged  soldiers. 
He  had  no  confidence  in  workmen  who  had  not  served  in 
the  army ;  and,  as  the  stonecutter  had  been  a  soldier,  he 
appointed  him  as  chief  of  the  stone-masons.  He  engaged 
an  older  man  to  superintend  the  erection  of  the  building, 
who  had  been  recommended  as  thoroughly  honest ;  and  it 
was  Lud wig's  intention  to  take  him  back  to  America  with 
him. 

We  learned  that  this  man  had  formerly  been  an  officer  of 
engineers.  He  had  been  obliged  to  resign,  and  now  led  a 
simple  and  industrious  life,  eating  and  sleeping  with  the 
quarry-men.  It  was  only  when  at  work,  that  one  could  no- 
tice that  he  was  of  a  higher  caste.  But  he  seemed  to  have 
no  judgment  of  his  own,  and  always  required  instructions; 
when  he  received  these  he  would  execute  them  with  care  and 
precision.  He  was  a  man  of  very  few  words,  and  always 
seemed  as  if  seeking  something  which  he  either  could  not 
or  dared  not  name. 

And  then  Ludwig  sent  for  Wacker,  the  dissipated  fellow 
who  lived  in  the  valley  beyond  the  mountains.  He  was 
only  slightly  intoxicated  when  he  arrived,  and  Ludwig  said 
to  him,  "  Wacker,  I  will  give  you  a  good  situation  on  one 
condition  :  you  may  get  drunk  three  times ;  but  after  the 
third,  you  will  be  summarily  discharged.  If  you  are  agreed, 
all  right;  and  I  shall  only  add,  beware  of  the  first  time: 
it  will  not  cost  you  your  situation,  but  it  will  make  an  inroad 
on  your  capital." 


308  WALDFRIED. 

For  a  while,  Wacker  conducted  himself  properly  ;  but  he 
gave  way  at  last.  He  had  his  three  drunks,  and  was  conse- 
quently discharged. 

It  was  now  time  to  begin  measuring  and  other  prepara- 
tions, and  to  employ  the  laborers ;  for  the  first  thing  in  order 
was  to  regulate  the  bed  of  the  stream. 

Annette  found  great  pleasure  in  watching  the  progress  of 
the  building. 

Ludwig  had  ascertained  where  the  stream  had  the  greatest 
fall.  He  had  an  instrument,  by  means  of  which  one  can, 
while  on  land,  quickly  ascertain  the  descent  of  the  current ; 
and  this,  too,  afforded  Annette  much  amusement.  She  was 
anxious  to  know  whether  the  power  of  water  was  measured 
by  so  many  horse-power.  In  her  desire  for  information,  she 
was  constantly  asking  questions.  Ludwig,  being  more  prac- 
tical than  Richard,  was  naturally  more  indulgent  with  An- 
nette's questionings.  Annette  had,  moreover,  ceased  to 
speak  as  if  she  felt  herself  a  privileged  person ;  she  had 
become  more  simple  and  retiring  in  her  ways. 

One  day  when  Annette  exclaimed,  "Ah,  what  a  pity  to 
make  the  pure  water  work  so ! "  Ludwig  imitated  her 
voice,  and  replied,  "  Ah,  what  a  pity  that  the  beautiful 
horses  must  draw  Madame  Annette's  carriage  ! " 

Annette  blushed  crimson ;  but  she  controlled  herself,  and 
said,  "  You  are  right ;  I  spoke  quite  childishly." 

"  Oh,  you  angel !  "  cried  Ludwig ;  "  a  woman  who  can 
say,  « You  are  right ;  I  have  been  wrong,'  really  is  a 
marvel." 

We  received  permission  to  carry  the  road  farther  down 
the  mountain,  and  in  that  way  secured  the  best  place  to  store 
our  material. 

There  was  another  obstacle  which  we  were  obliged  to  over- 
come, and  one  of  which  we  had  never  thought  The  En- 


WALDFRIED. 


309 


glishman  had  leased  the  right  to  fish  in  the  valley,  from  the 
villagers  and  farmers  along  the  banks  of  the  stream ;  and  he 
now  attempted,  through  the  courts,  to  enjoin  us  from  blasting 
the  rocks  ;  for  just  there  was  the  best  spot  for  trout. 

Ludvvig  went  before  the  court  in  person,  and  he  succeeded 
in  having  the  injunction  set  aside. 

Before  that,  the  Englishman  had  been  a  mere  stranger  to 
us ;  but  now  he  was  our  enemy,  and  would  not  deign  to  be- 
stow a  glance  on  us.  When  any  one  of  us  walked  or  drove 
by,  he  would  turn  his  back  on  us. 

In  all  this  trouble,  Ludwig  was  calm  and  kind ;  but  care- 
less work  made  him  so  indignant  that  he  characterized  it  as 
crime  and  villany.  He  was  dissatisfied,  because,  in  their 
own  home,  he  found  that  the  German  workmen  had  two 
great  faults — they  were  awkward,  and  wasted  too  much  time. 
In  the  new  world,  these  very  people  would  act  quite  differ- 
ently. 

Annette  wanted  to  erect  kitchens  down  by  the  banks  of 
the  stre'am  for  the  workmen.  She  had  already  discussed  the 
matter  with  the  schoolmaster's  wife,  and  the  locksmith's 
widow  was  ready  to  assist ;  but  the  people  took  no  interest 
in  the  affair. 

Although  she  had  already  made  up  her  mind,  the  lock- 
smith's widow  considered  it  her  duty  to  consult  Ludwig  in 
regard  to  her  marrying  again.  She  had  chosen  the  young 
stone-mason,  who  was  hardly  as  old  as  she. 

The  wedding  took  place  on  a  Sunday;  and  Annette  busied 
herself  conjecturing  how  the  three  children  must  have  felt  at 
their  mother's  marriage. 

We  were  obliged,  out  of  compliment,  to  be  present  at  the 
marriage  feast ;  and  Schweitzer-Schmalz,  who  was  a  relative 
of  the  bridegroom,  called  out,  at  the  top  of  his  voice, 
that  the  bridegroom  had  not  needed  to  marry  so  soon 


WALDFRIED. 

for  fear  of  being  obliged  to  go  to  war  again.  The  blatant 
Prussian  would  not  venture  to  try  conclusions  with  France ; 
and  if  he  did  really  attempt  it,  the  real  Germans,  that  is,  the 
South  Germans,  would  not  assist. 

In  a  loud  voice,  he  retailed  the  wisdom  of  the  popular 
journals ;  and  I  verily  believe  that  he  did  it  with  the  inten- 
tion of  drawing  us  out. 

Ludwig  whispered  to  me,  "  It  is  not  worth  while  trying  to 
convert  this  man  ;  events  will  teach  him." 

Although  I  did  not  believe  there  would  be  war,  Ludwig 
looked  forward  to  it  with  great  certainty,  and  only  feared 
that  we  might  neglect  the  proper  moment  to  let  the  whole 
world  see  that  it  was  France  that  was  wantonly  and  impiously 
forcing  war  upon  us. 

We  went  down  to  the  valley  stream  in  order  to  see  that 
no  accident  should  happen  while  the  rocks  were  being 
blasted. 

Ludwig  superintended  the  blasting  in  person.  With  An- 
nette and  Conny,  I  was  stationed  down  the  road,  while  Roth- 
fuss  and  Martella  were  on  the  other  side,  in  order  that  all 
might  be  warned  of  the  danger. 

Suddenly  there  was  a  loud  report  which  reverberated 
through  the  valleys  and  the  forests ;  the  blasting  was  a  com- 
plete success. 

Soon  after,  we  were  assembled  on  the  road,  and  even 
the  quarry-men  were  with  us,  when  Ikwarte,  accompanied 
by  one  of  the  forester's  men,  came  running  up  to  us,  out  of 
breath,  exclaiming,  before  he  reached  us  : 

"  War  has  been  declared  ! " 

The  forester  brought  me  a  message  informing  me  that 
France  had  declared  war,  and  calling  on  me  to  repair  to  the 
meeting  of  the  Parliament  at  once. 

Ludwig  gave  instructions  that  the  work  should  be  contin- 


WALDFRIED. 

ued  without  interruption,  and  placed  the  completion  of  the 
new  building  in  charge  of  the  engineer.  That  very  evening 
he  accompanied  me  to  the  capital,  Martella  going  with  us. 

The  Englishman  stood  by  the  bank,  angling. 

It  was  not  until  after  I  had  left  home,  that  I  began  to 
realize  what  was  in  store  for  us. 


BOOK     FOURTH. 


CHAPTER  I. 

great  crisis  which  we  have  dreaded  and  yet  hoped 
JL  for  has  at  last  arrived.  We  are  again  obliged  to 
contend  with  our  hectoring  neighbor,  whose  lust  of  power 
goads  him  to  trample  on  our  rights.  We  must  fight,  if  we 
wish  to  endure  ;  and  will  all  Germany  be  united  ?  If  in  this 
juncture  we  are  not  as  one,  our  ruin  is  assured,  and  will  be 
richly  deserved. 

To  know  that  the  decisive  moment  is  at  hand,  and  that 
you  cannot  actively  participate — that  you  are  only  a  single 
wave  in  the  current,  is  at  once  an  oppressive  and  an  exalt- 
ing thought. 

In  my  mind,  I  go  over  the  list  of  my  fellow-members  in  the 
Parliament.  The  decision  seems  to  hang  in  doubt.  Ec- 
centricity is  still  rampant,  and  decks  itself  with  all  sorts  of 
revolutionary  ideas. 

And  how  is  the  Prince  inclined  ?  Were  it  better  if  it 
rested  with  one  man  to  decide  whether  we  should  have  war 
or  peace  ? 

And  there  is  another  bitter  experience  that  is  forced  upon 
us  in  periods  of  doubt  and  indecision  ;  namely,  that  fixed 
principles  begin  to  waver. 

I  found  it  a  great  comfort  to  have  Ludwig  with  me.     He 


WALDFRIED. 

was  so  thoroughly  in  sympathy  with  me,  and  yei,  at  the  same 
time,  a  foreigner.  He  had  become  a  citizen  of  the  New 
World,  in  which  he  had  lived  over  twenty  years,  and  his 
views  were  freer  from  prejudice  than  ours  could  be. 

In  spite  of  the  declaration  of  war  on  the  part  of  the 
French  government,  the  ravings  in  the  French  Legislative 
Chambers,  and  the  outcry  in  the  streets  of  Paris,  I  yet  en- 
couraged a  hope  that  war  might  be  averted.  But  Ludwig 
thought — and  I  was  obliged  to  agree  with  him — that  it  were 
both  treachery  and  folly  now,  when  the  right  was  on  our 
side,  not  to  accept  the  battle  which  would  thus  only  be  post- 
poned. For  this  constant  waiting  and  watching  for  what 
others  may  do,  is  a  painful  state  of  dependence. 

Ludwig  was  younger;  his  pulse  was  steadier.  He  had 
already  fought  in  this  country  with  undisciplined  crowds, 
and,  in  the  United  States,  had  taken  part  in  the  great 
war. 

He  said  in  confidence  that  if  he  had  known  that  the  de- 
cision was  so  near  at  hand,  he  would  have  kept  on  better 
terms  with  Funk  ;  because,  at  that  moment,  the  great  object 
was  to  gain  his  allegiance  and  that  of  his  party,  in  which 
there  was  no  lack  of  noble  enthusiasts.  Ludwig  held  that, 
in  politics,  it  was  not  alone  permissible,  but  even  necessary, 
to  use  strategy  and  double-dealing. 

Martella  so  urgently  entreated  me  to  permit  her  to  ac- 
company us,  that,  for  her  sake,  Lud wig's  wife  remained  at 
home. 

At  the  village  down  by  the  railway  station,  and  at  nearly 
every  station  on  the  road,  I  was  asked  whether  I  believed 
there  would  be  war,  and  whether  I  would  advise  the  people 
to  drive  their  cattle  into  out-of-the-way  ravines  and  valleys, 
and  to  hide  their  household  goods,  on  account  of  the  threat- 
ened invasion  of  the  French  hordes. 


3 14  WALDFRIED. 

I  took  great  pains  to  explain  my  views ;  but,  at  the 
second  station,  Ludvvig  said  :  "  Father,  you  are  giving  your- 
self unnecessary  trouble.  The  people  do  not  wish  to  learn 
anything.  They  think  that  you  cannot  know  any  more 
about  it  than  they  do.  They  simply  ask  you  idle  and 
anxious  questions,  just  as  they  would  at  other  times,  'What 
kind  of  weather  do  you  think  we  will  have  ? '  Father,  do 
not  pour  out  the  deepest  feelings  of  your  heart." 

After  that,  I  replied  that  one  could  not  say  much  upon 
the  subject ;  and  I  observed  that  the  people,  were  more 
respectful  because  I  was  so  reserved.  They  assumed  that,  as 
1  was  a  delegate,  I  was  fully  informed  on  all  subjects,  and 
neither  dared  nor  desired  to  unbosom  myself. 

It  was  rather  late,  but  not  too  late.  From  that  day,  I 
learned  that  it  is  not  best  to  open  one's  soul  to  anothei  and 
reveal  all  that  is  within  it ;  and  for  that  reason,  it  is  said  of 
me  that,  since  the  beginning  of  the  war,  I  am  a  changed 
man.  In  those  days,  I  learned  things  that  never  were  suf- 
fered to  pass  my  lips. 

The  first  one  whom  we  met  at  the  capital  was  rny  son-in- 
law,  the  Major. 

"  What  is  the  opinion  in  the  army?  "  inquired  Ludwig. 

The  Major  looked  at  him  steadily,  and,  after  a  pause, 
answered,  ''Opinion?  In  the  army  there  is  obedience." 
With  forced  composure,  he  added,  "  As  far  as  I  know,  the 
army  neither  debates  nor  votes." 

He  turned  to  me  and  said  that  this  time  we  were  better 
prepared  than  four  years  ago. 

I  asked  whether  the  army  orders  had  already  been  pro- 
mulgated. 

He  shrugged  his  shoulders,  and  evidently  did  not  care  to 
divulge  anything.  He  told  me,  though,  that  since  the  even- 
ing previous,  he  had  been  advanced  to  the  rank  of  colonel, 


WALDFRIED.  3!  5 

and  had  been  placed  in  command  of  a  regiment.  When  I 
spoke  of  this,  as  indicating  that  the  Prince  had  decided  for 
war,  he  lapsed  into  silence. 

We  soon  parted,  regretting  that  we  could  not  go  to  his 
house,  for  Annette  had  already  prepared  quarters  for  our 
reception. 

I  then  went  to  our  club-house  and  learned  that  our  party 
was  already  broken  up.  The  Funk  faction — I  must  give  it 
this  name,  although  he  was  not  its  leader — held  separate 
meetings. 

Ludwig  determined  logo  at  once  to  the  meeting  of  Funk's 
party,  because  it  was  important  above  all  things  to  know 
what  was  being  done  there. 

"I  believe  in  Lincoln's  maxim,"  said  he,  "that  'it  will 
never  do  to  swap  horses  while  crossing  streams.' " 

In  little  more  than  an  hour,  he  returned  and  told  us  that 
he  had  been  coldly  received,  although  the  leadership  was 
shared  with  Funk  by  two  members  who  had  once  been 
among  his  most  intimate  friends.  He  was  now,  however, 
able  to  tell  that  their  plan  was  to  insist  on  neutrality.  They 
did  not  dare  to  think,  much  less  to  speak,  of  an  alliance  with 
France.  Their  intention,  however,  was  to  call  together  a 
large  meeting  of  the  popular  party,  in  order  to  exert  a  moral 
inlluence  on  Parliament,  and  perhaps  to  overawe  it. 

At  our  meeting,  we  were  expecting  the  arrival  of  the  prime 
minister;  the  right  wing  of  our  party  sided  with  the  min- 
istry. 

The  minister  did  not  come  ;  but  sent  one  of  his  council- 
lors, who  informed  me  that  the  session  would  not  be  opened 
unless  a  quorum  of  delegates  was  present. 

He  told  us  that  there  was  great  disorder  among  the  tele- 
graphs. 

After  the  councillor  had  left,  Loedinger,  my  old  associate 


316 


WALDFRIED. 


and  prison-mate,  told  me  in  confidence,  that  he  expected  a 
coup  d'etat.  He  felt  that  the  Prince  had  no  desire  to  take 
counsel  with  the  country,  and  had  determined  that  his  glon 
as  a  warrior  should  be  shared  by  no  one. 

Loedinger  was  one  of  those  imaginative  persons  who, 
whenever  they  form  suspicions  against  any  one,  carry  them 
to  their  extremest  consequences. 

The  President,  who  was  a  member  of  our  party,  told  us 
under  the  seal  of  secrecy,  that  the  reason  for  delaying  the 
opening  of  our  session  was  that  they  might  first  ascertain 
what  action  the  delegates  in  the  next  state  would  decide 
upon. 

We  were  thus  held  in  anxious  suspense. 

During  the  night,  I  found  it  impossible  to  sleep;  and 
Ludwig,  who  was  in  the  next  room,  called  out  to  me  : 
"  Father,  you  must  sleep ;  to-morrow  will  be  a  trying  day. 
Just  think  of  it ! — the  Emperor  of  Germany — I  should  say, 
the  King  of  Prussia — must  also  sleep  to-night,  and  he  is 
three  years  older  than  you  are." 

Yes,  it  was  on  that  night,  the  i6th  of  July,  that  my  son 
announced  the  German  Emperor  to  me.  I  could  not  help 
smiling  with  joy,  and  at  last  fell  asleep.  And,  strange  to 
say,  I  dreamed  that  I  was  again  at  Jena,  and  that  the  fan- 
tastic mummery  of  those  days  was  being  renewed.  Be- 
cause I  had  a  round  head  and  a  ruddy  complexion,  I  was 
termed  the  "Imperial  Globe,"  and  they  maintained  that, 
with  my  large  stature  and  broad  shoulders,  the  imperial  man- 
tle would  fit  me  best  of  all.  They  placed  it  on  me,  and  I 
was  obliged  forthwith  to  distribute  offices.  And  suddenly, 
I  was  no  longer  the  Emperor,  but  Rothfuss,  who  laughed 
most  terribly.  I,  too,  was  obliged  to  laugh — and,  laughing, 
I  awoke. 


CHAPTER  II. 

WHEN  I  opened  my  eyes,  Luclwig  stood  at  my  bed- 
side and  said,  "  You  have  slept  well,  father,  and  it 
is  well  that  you  did.  You  will  need  all  your  strength  to-day ; 
for  to-day  it  will  be — Good-morning,  Germany." 

I  cannot  describe  how  my  son's  presence  helped  to 
strengthen  me.  I  felt  that,  with  his  power  added  to  mine,  I 
was  doubly  prepared  for  all  that  might  happen. 

There  is  nothing  more  encouraging,  in  troubled  times, 
than  to  have  a  faithful  friend  at  one's  side, — a  truth  which 
was  proved  to  me  on  that  day  and  many  a  time  since. 

I  could  not  help  recounting  my  strange  dream,  and  when 
I  added  that  it  gave  me  incomparable  joy  to  think  that  the 
day  had  at  last  arrived  in  which  one  might  say  the  hearts  of 
all  Germans  throbbed  in  unison,  Ludwig  begged  me  not  to  talk 
so  much.  He  said  that  he  could  sympathize  with  me,  and 
feel  what  a  satisfaction  it  must  be  to  me.  after  having  fought 
and  suffered  for  fifty  years,  at  last  to  witness  the  fruition  of 
my  hopes,  even  though  the  price  paid  be  war  and  bloodshed. 

He  was  indeed  right.  He  responded  to  all  my  feelings ; 
I  may  indeed  say  that  he  anticipated  them. 

When  I  reached  the  street,  the  throng  was  such  that  it 
seemed  as  if  all  the  houses  had  been  emptied  of  their 
inhabitants.  Here  and  there,  were  groups  talking  aloud, 
and  before  the  printing-office  of  the  principal  newspaper,  it 
was  almost  impossible  to  work  one's  way  through  the 
crowd. 

It  was  there  that  I  met  an  old  friend,  the  incorruptible 
Molder.  In  1866  he  had  resigned  a  high  position  under 


3 1 8  WALDFRIED. 

the  state,  in  order,  thenceforth,  to  devote  himself  to  his 
Fatherland,  and,  above  all,  to  the  cause  of  German  unity. 

"  It  is  well  that  I  meet  you,"  he  said  ;  "  we  have  war  now, 
and  have  stolen  a  march  on  the  French.  Here,  in  the 
capital,  the  majority  of  the  citizens  are  on  our  side,  but  in 
the  country,  as  you  well  know,  the  so-called  popular  party 
is  to  a  certain  extent  in  the  majority.  The  common  people 
are  not  so  willing  to  follow  our  advice,  for  they  are  in  the 
hands  of  the  clergy  and  the  demagogues,  who,  for  a  little 
while  longer,  will  travel  together  on  the  same  road.  Foi 
this  reason,  we  have  issued  the  call  for  a  mass  meeting  at 
the  Turners'  Hall  for  this  evening." 

"  Would  it  not  be  best  for  us  delegates  to  hold  aloof  from 
it  ?  "  I  inquired. 

<:  No  ;  it  is  too  late  for  that.  You  will  have  to  speak 
there,  and  so  will  your  son  from  America.  We  did  not  care 
to  arouse  you  so  late  last  night,  and  I  have,  therefore,  on  my 
own  responsibility,  signed  your  name  to  the  call.  But 
look!" 

I  saw  crowds  standing  at  the  street  corners,  and  reading  a 
large  placard,  calling  on  all  whose  hearts  beat  with  love 
of  Germany  to  meet  together — and  I  really  found  my  name 
at  the  foot  of  it. 

I  could  not  object;  our  actions  were  no  longer  at  our  own 
disposal. 

Excited  crowds  filled  the  streets  during  the  whole  day. 
The  whole  population  seemed  like  one  restless  being  in  anx- 
ious suspense.  It  was  said  that  the  telegraph  wires  had  been 
connected  with  the  palace,  and  as  the  people  knew  nothing 
of  this  before,  the  information  caused  great  surprise.  The 
afternoon  paper  brought  the  official  news  that  they  had  wanted 
the  King  of  Prussia  to  address  the  French  Emperor  in  an 
humble  letter,  in  which  he  was  particularly  forbidden  to  refer 


WALDFRIED.  3x9 

to  the  relationship  existing  between  the  French  Emperor 
and  the  Prince  of  Hohenzollern,  who  had  been  elected 
King  of  Spain — a  pleasant  preparation  for  what  was  to  en- 
sue in  the  evening. 

I  did  not  see  the  Colonel  during  the  whole  day,  but  his 
friend,  Professor  Roltint,  hunted  me  up;  and,  from  the 
manner  in  which  he  spoke  of  our  project,  it  seemed  to  me 
that  my  son-in-law  approved  of  it,  and  that  the  popular 
movement  about  to  be  set  on  foot,  was  not  looked  upon  with 
disfavor  by  the  government.  Moreover,  the  Professor  had 
become  very  cautious,  and  was  known  to  stand  well  with 
government  circles.  He  was  believed  to  be  an  anonymous 
contributor  to  the  official  organ. 

In  the  evening,  we  repaired  to  the  place  of  meeting. 

Molder  arrived,  and  with  pale  and  trembling  lips,  told 
us  : 

"  It  is  rumored  that  the  friends  of  the  French  will  attempt 
to  break  up  the  meeting.  But  I  have  called  on  the  Turners. 
They  are  all  on  our  side,  and  your  son  stands  as  well  with 
them  as  he  once  did." 

The  proceedings  began. 

Molder  was  the  first  speaker.  I  have  never  seen  any  one 
more  excited  than  he  was.  His  lips  trembled,  and  he  held 
fast  to  the  rail  with  a  convulsive  grasp,  while  he  began  : 

"  We  do  not  desire  to  become  Prussians  ;  but  we  wish  to 
be  Germans,  as  we  must  and  shall  be.  Is  there  one  among 
you  who  would  dare  to  utter  the  accursed  words,  '  Rather 
French  than  Prussian  ! '  If  there  be  one  who  dares  to  think 
it,  let  him  dare  to  say  it." 

He  paused  for  a  while,  and  then  exclaimed : 

"  Is  there  such  a  one  among  you  ?     Answer  me  !    Yes  or 
no!" 
':  "  No ! "   resounded  from  a  thousand  throats,  and  he  re- 


32O  WALDFRIED. 

sponded  with  joyous  voice,  "  Then  we  are  all  friends."  He 
then  concluded  his  address,  eloquently  maintaining  that  to 
attempt  to  remain  neutral  were  both  treachery  and  folly. 

A  young  advocate  who  had  been  defeated  in  the  recent 
elections,  by  one  of  the  clerical  party,  followed.  He  spoke 
with  that  studied  eloquence  which  talks  glibly  and  in  nicely 
rounded  phrases.  He  concluded  by  demanding  that  the 
whole  meeting  should  proceed  to  the  palace  and  request 
the  Prince  to  discharge  his  hesitating  ministry  ;  or,  at  all 
events,  the  one  minister  who  seemed  to  be  unpatriotically 
inclined. 

Enthusiastic  and  joyous  shouts  of  approval  were  showered 
upon  him. 

I  saw  the  danger  that  threatened,  and  asked  for  the  floor. 

"There  has  been  enough  talking;  it  is  time  now  for 
deeds  !  "  cried  a  voice  in  the  assembly,  and  it  seemed  as  if 
the  crowd  were  already  on  the  move. 

My  heart  stood  still.  We  were  no  longer  masters  of  our 
own  actions. 

Then  Ludwig  cried  out,  in  a  voice  so  powerful  that  the 
very  walls  seemed  to  tremble,  "  If  you  are  men,  listen  !  My 
father  wishes  to  speak." 

"  Hurrah  for  the  King  of  the  Turners  !  Let  old  Waldfried 
speak  !  Silence  !  Order  !  Let  old  Waldfried  speak  !  " 

It  was  a  long  while  before  the  shouting  and  the  cheering 
ceased,  and  I  think  I  spoke  the  right  word  at  the  right 
time. 

I  had  a  right  to  refer  to  my  past,  and  to  explain  to  them 
that  it  would  only  create  disturbance  and  confusion  to  adopt 
such  violent  measures  before  anything  had  really  been  de- 
cided upon.  If  I  were  the  Prince,  I  would  not  yield  to  their 
wishes  until  the  voice  of  the  representatives  of  the  people 
had  been  heard. 


WALDFRIED.  321 

The  temper  of  the  meeting  changed,  and  I  received  many 
signs  of  approval. 

When  I  had  finished,  there  were  shouts  of,  "  We  want  to 
hear  the  King  of  the  Turners  speak  ! " 

Ludwig  mounted  the  rostrum  ;  but  so  great  was  the  ap- 
plause, that  it  was  several  minutes  before  he  could  speak. 

At  last  he  began,  in  a  cheerful  tone,  saying  that  we  Ger- 
mans were  still  full  of  the  haughty  arrogance  of  youth,  and 
that  this  very  meeting  was  a  proof  of  it. 

Then,  with  words  that  carried  conviction  to  all  who  list- 
ened, he  told  them  how  the  events  of  the  last  year  had  been 
a  blessing  to  the  emigrants  in  America ;  a  blessing,  indeed, 
which  could  not  thoroughly  be  appreciated  by  those  who 
were  yet  at  home.  The  German  had  been  respected,  if  he 
could  call  himself  a  Prussian  ;  but  now  the  time  had  come 
when  the  word  German  must  be  an  honored  name.  And 
if,  as  some  maintained,  the  South  Germans  are  the  real  Ger- 
mans, let  them  prove  it. 

If  the  Prussians  are  not  yet  Germans,  they  shall,  and 
must,  and  will  become  so.  They  delivered  us  from  the  real 
Napoleon ;  they  will  also  be  able  to  free  us  from  the  coun- 
terfeit one.  The  first  was  not  made  of  gold,  but  this  one  is 
mere  pinchbeck. 

"  I  have  fought  against  negro  slavery ;  now  the  battle  is 
against  the  slavery  that  French  ambition  would  submit  us 
to." 

While  Ludwig  was  speaking,  the  chairman  handed  me  a 
little  slip  of  paper,  on  which  were  written  the  words,  "  Your 
son  knows  how  to  allow  the  heated  steed  to  cool  off  before 
tying  him." 

Ludwig  could,  indeed,  direct  the  mood  of  the  meeting  at 
will. 

To  the  great  amusememt  of  his  audience,  he  said  that  he 
21 


322 


WALDFRIED. 


had  the  rare  good  fortune  of  having  been  born  near  the 
boundary  line,  and  that,  consequently,  the  first  object  he 
had  become  sensible  of,  were  the  two  brightly  painted  posts 
which  stood  side  by  side  on  the  road ;  and  that,  while  yet  a 
child,  he  had  often  looked  up  to  the  trees  in  the  woods,  to 
see  whether  they  knew  to  which  of  the  posts  they  belonged 

"  And  when  I  returned,  the  abject  life  that  we  had  been 
leading  was  again  brought  to  my  mind.  On  the  one  side 
marked  by  the  bright  post,  all  is  Catholic,  and  on  the  other 
side  all  is  Protestant,  because  in  those  tinies  the  people 
wore  obliged  to  accept  their  so-called  religion  from  their 
masters. 

"  Allow  me  to  take  a  comparison  from  my  own  trade.  It 
requires  many  strong  posts  to  make  the  scaffolding  of  a 
building.  The  departed  martyrs  for  German  unity  were  the 
scaffolding.  It  has  been  torn  down,  and  now  we  behold  the 
building,  pure  and  simple,  firmly  and  regularly  built,  and 
appropriately  adorned. 

"  Or  another  simile:  Have  you  ever  observed  a  raft  in 
the  valley  stream?  It  floats  along  slowly  and  lazily,  but 
when  it  reaches  the  weir  it  hurries ;  and  then  is  the  time  to 
find  out  whether  the  withes  are  strong  and  hold  the  planks 
firmly  together. 

"The  German  logs  must  now  pass  through  the  weir. 
There  is  a  cracking  and  a  straining,  but  they  hold  fast  to 
each  other,  and  right  merrily  do  they  float  down  into  the 
Rhine  and  out  into  the  ocean. 

"The  bells  in  the  neighboring  state  have  a  different  tone 
from  ours ;  but  if  the  two  are  in  accord,  the  effect  is  so 
much  the  more  beautiful.  And  from  this  moment  let  all 
bells  chime  in  harmony." 

Ludvvig  had  the  rare  faculty  of  introducing  apt  illus- 
trations while  his  audience  was  all  aglow  with  enthusiasm, 


WALL  FRIED.  ^23 

and  thus  kept  the  meeting  in  the  best  of  humoi  and  ready  to 
agree  with  him  when  he  concluded  by  saying:  "We  have 
been  patient  so  long — for  more  than  half  a  century  :  indeed, 
ever  since  the  battle  of  Leipzig — that  we  can  well  afford  to 
be  patient  for  a  few  days,  perhaps  only  a  few  hours  longer." 

The  meeting  which  had  been  so  excited  closed  with  sing- 
ing. It  was  on  that  evening  that  I  heard  "  Die  Wacht  am 
Rhein,"  for  the  first  time.  It  must,  before  that,  have  been 
slumbering  on  every  lip,  and  had  now  at  last  awakened. 

The  young  advocate  who  had  proposed  the  immediate  re- 
moval of  the  minister,  whispered  to  me,  "  I  thank  you  for 
having  defeated  my  motion." 

I  looked  at  him  with  surprise,  and  he  continued  :  "  I 
do,  indeed,  thank  you.  The  only  object  was  to  show  the 
friends  of  the  French  that  even  though  it  might  require  ex- 
treme measures,  no  demand  that  liberalism  could  make 
would  surprise  us." 

That  sort  of  worldly  wisdom  was  not  to  my  taste. 

The  chairman  then  put  the  following  resolution  to  a  vote  : 

That  we  would  remain  true  to  the  articles  of  confedera- 
tion and  to  the  German  cause,  with  all  our  means  and  at 
every  sacrifice. 

They  shouted  their  approval  with  one  voice  ;  and  now  he 
closed  the  meeting  with  a  few  cheerful  remarks,  announcing 
that  we  would  adjourn  to  the  garden,  where  the  beer  was 
very  good,  and  where  there  would  be  no  more  speeches  ex- 
cept the  clinking  of  the  mugs. 


CHAPTER  III. 

"  1T7ATHER,  you  had  better  go  home ;  you  need  sleep. 

.L  I  will  accompany  you  to  our  quarters,  but  I  must  re- 
return  again,  as  they  all  insist  upon  my  doing  so." 

Ludwig  and  I  took  our  way  through  the  streets.  They 
were  still  filled  with  a  surging  crowd,  and  in  front  of  the 
pajace  the  entire  guard  was  under  arms.  They  had  evi- 
dently made  preparations  against  a  popular  disturbance. 

When  I  arrived  at  the  dwelling,  Ludwig  left  me. 

Annette  was  still  awake,  and  informed  me,  as  soon  as  I 
entered,  that  a  member  of  the  cabinet  had  been  there,  had 
left  word  that  I  should  come  to  the  palace  that  evening, 
and  that  if  I  would  mention  my  name  at  the  left  entrance  I 
would  be  admitted.  He  had  also  said  that,  no  matter  how 
late  it  was  when  I  returned,  I  should  not  fail  to  come.  I 
said  that  there  must  have  been  some  mistake — that  they 
probably  meant  my  son  Richard,  or  Ludwig ;  but  Annette 
repeated  that  "Father  Waldfried"  had  been  especially  men- 
tioned. 

I  replied  that  I  was  so  tired  that  I  would  have  to  leave  it 
until  the  next  day,  but  Annette  thought  that  such  a  command 
must  be  implicitly  obeyed,  and  believed  that  the  Prince 
himself  desired  to  speak  with  me. 

I  repaired  to  the  palace.  The  whole  of  the  left  wing  was 
illuminated. 

When  I  gave  my  name  to  the  lackey  at  the  foot  of  the 
staircase,  he  called  it  out,  and  a  secretary  appeared  and 
said,  in  a  respectful  voice;  "  The  Prince  awaits  you." 


WALDFRIED. 


325 


I  pointed  to  my  workday  dress,  but  was  assured  that  that 
made  no  matter. 

I  ascended  the  staircase.  On  every  hand  there  were 
guards.  I  was  conducted  into  a  large  saloon,  where  the 
secretary  left  me.  He  soon  reappeared,  holding  the  door 
open  and  saying,  "  Please  enter." 

I  went  in.  The  Prince  advanced  to  meet  me,  and  took 
me  by  the  hand,  saying  :  "  I  thank  you  sincerely  for  having 
come.  I  would  gladly  have  allowed  you  to  rest  overnight, 
but  these  times  do  not  permit  us  to  rest.  Pray  be  seated." 

It  was  well  that  I  was  allowed  to  take  a  seat. 

The  Prince  must  have  observed  that  I  was  almost  out  of 
breath,  and  said  :  "  Do  not  speak  ;  you  are  quite  exhausted. 
Permit  me  to  tell  you  that,  in  this  trying  hour,  I  repose  full 
confidence  in  you.  I  have,  for  a  long  while,  desired  to  make 
your  acquaintance.  I  have  known  your  son,  the  Professor, 
ever  since  he  was  at  the  university." 

He  added  other  highly  complimentary  remarks. 

A  pause  ensued,  during  which  I  noticed,  on  the  opposite 
wall,  a  picture  of  the  deceased  Princess,  who,  as  I  had  often 
heard,  had  been  a  great  benefactress  to  the  country  during 
the  famine  of  1817.  This  picture  revived  my  recollections 
of  Gustava,  and  I  felt  as  if  I  were  not  alone,  but  as  if  she 
were  with  me. 

All  this  passed  through  my  mind  during  the  few  moments 
of  silence. 

The  Prince  went  on  to  say  that  he  had  been  informed  of 
what  I  had  said  an  hour  ago  at  the  popular  meeting.  It  had, 
for  several  days,  been  his  desire  to  act  in  union  with  me,  but 
that  he  had  entertained  doubts  on  various  points, — among 
others  as  to  whether  I  could  attach  myself  to  him ;  and  that 
the  information  he  had  just  received  had  at  last  aided  him 
to  form  his  conclusion. 


326  WALDFRIED. 

"  Excuse  the  question,  but  are  you  a  republican  ?  " 

"I  have  sworn  to  support  the  government,"  was  my 
answer. 

"  Are  you  a  republican  in  theory  ?  " 

"In  theory  ?  The  days  of  Pericles  and  Scipio  are  reflected 
in  the  soul  of  every  German  who  has  received  a  classical 
education,  and,  logically  considered,  a  republic  is  the  only 
form  of  free  government.  But  neither  the  life  of  nature, 
nor  that  of  human  history,  is  absolutely  logical,  for 
actual  necessity  sets  aside  the  systems  erected  by  abstract 
reason." 

"  That  is  well,  and  we  shall,  therefore,  no  doubt  agree  on 
all  that  follows.  But  let  me  ask  you  one  other  question  : 
Do  you  candidly  and  heartily  desire  the  continued  existence 
of  my  sovereign  dynasty  ?  " 

"  Sovereign — no  ;  dynasty — yes." 

At  these  words  the  Prince  arose  from  his  seat,  and 
hurriedly  walked  across  the  floor.  It  seemed  as  if  he  invol- 
untarily placed  a  distance  between  himself  and  me.  He  re- 
mainded  standing  in  a  dark  corner  of  the  room. 

There  was  a  long  pause,  during  which  nothing  broke  the 
silence  except  the  ticking  of  the  little  clock  on  his  table. 

Such  words  had  never  been  uttered  in  those  halls.  I  had 
done  my  duty ;  but  I  distrusted  the  Prince.  Although  sus- 
picion is  foreign  to  my  nature,  his  entire  behavior  aroused 
it  in  me.  The  Prince  returned,  and  stood  opposite  me, 
while  he  rested  his  clenched  fist  on  his  writing-desk.  The 
full  light  was  streaming  on  his  face. 

"  Explain  yourself  more  fully,"  he  said. 

"  Your  Highness,"  I  replied,  "  what  I  said  to  you  was  said 
after  full  reflection." 

"  I  feel  assured  of  that ;  but  speak  out  fearlessly." 

"  I   have  fought,  thought,  and  lived  for  this  during  my 


WALDFRIED.  327 

whole  lifetime.  If  we  are  to  gain  a  real  Fatherland,  the 
princes  must  relinquish  their  claim  to  sovereignty  :  that  be- 
longs only  to  the  whole. 

"  The  growth  of  the  idea  of  German  unity  has  been  in 
geometrical  progression.  During  the  period  of  the  rotten 
restoration,  from  the  battle  of  Leipzig  down  to  1830,  those 
who  entertained  it  might  have  been  counted  by  hundreds, 
or,  at  most,  thousands,  and  they  were  to  be  found  only 
among  the  cultured  or  learned  classes.  After  1830,  they 
were  counted  by  hundreds  of  thousands,  and  after  1848,  by 
millions ;  and  to-day  the  thought  of  German  unity  is  alive 
in  ail  who  know  that  they  are  Germans. 

"  One  system  of  laws  within  our  borders,  a  united  army, 
and  united  representation  in  foreign  lands.  But  the  league  of 
the  states,  that  through  joy  and  sorrow  have  achieved  unity 
for  themselves,  should  be  faithfully  preserved.  The  forest  is 
one  united  whole,  and  yet  every  tree  has  its  individual  life. 

"  Your  Highness,  I  live  near  the  borders.  The  obstinacy  of 
the  Vienna  congress  has  so  cut  up  the  country  that  we  are 
obliged  to  go  out  of  our  state  to  get  salt.  I  have 
fields  and  woods  beyond  the  boundary  post,  and  this  has 
given  rise  to  a  thousand  and  one  annoyances.  Even  the 
protection  of  the  forests,  on  which  depends  the  life  of  our 
landed  interests,  is  obstructed  by  the  diversity  of  laws.  The 
hailstorm  we  had  last  week  paid  no  regard  to  boundary 
posts." 

From  the  depths  of  my  heart,  I  said  :  "  Your  dynasty,  you 
and  your  house,  should  remain  our  chief;  but  they  should 
be  subject  to  the  greater  commonwealth." 

"  Subject  ?  "  said  the  Prince.  He  evidently  expected  that 
I  would  withdraw  or  modify  the  word ;  but  I  felt  that  I 
could  not  do  so. 

And  then  he  took  my  hand  in  his  and  said : 


328 


WALDFRIED. 


11 1  knew  that  these  were  your  thoughts ;  I  assumed  as 
much.  But  I  feel  grateful  that  you  have  allowed  me  to  hear 
them  from  your  own  lips.  Do  you  believe  that  the  majority 
of  my — or  our — people  feel  as  you  do  ?  " 

"  No,  I  do  not  believe  so.  That  is,  they  do  not  feel  so 
to-day,  but  they  will  to-morrow.  Deeds — deeds  of  sacrifice 
— are  the  most  powerful  instructors ;  they  teach  men  what 
they  should  think,  and  even  find  a  voice  for  what  has  been 
slumbering  in  their  souls,  but  which — through  pride  and  anger, 
or  through  want  of  courage — they  have  not  even  dared  to 
think  of." 

"  You  are  not  an  enthusiast." 

"  I  do  not  believe  I  am  one.  The  people  love  the  princes 
from  force  of  habit,  and  will  be  none  the  less  glad  to  love 
them  when  reflection  and  reason  permit  them  to  do  so." 

"  Have  you  ever  had  the  desire  to  occupy  a  position  of 
authority  under  the  government  ?" 

"  Certainly  ;  it  was  my  greatest  desire,  and  I  believe — " 

"You  ought  to  be  President  of  the  ministry." 

I  replied  that  I  was  a  practical  farmer,  and  had  never  been 
in  the  government  service. 

"  Tell  me  how  you  have  become  what  you  are,"  said  the 
Prince,  taking  a  seat  opposite  me. 


CHAPTER  IV. 

I  SHALL  gladly  tell  you  all." 
"  The   less   reserve  on  your  part,    the   greater  my 
thanks." 

"  I  was  one  of  those  who  were  persecuted  on  account  of 
what  at  that  time  was  called  demagogism. 

"  The  soldier  who  guarded  me — he  is  now  a  servant  in 
my  employ — informed  me  that  I  had  been  sentenced 
to  death,  and  offered  to  change  clothes  with  me,  in  order 
that  I  might  escape.  I  refused  the  offer  and  remained.  We 
were  not  sentenced  to  death,  but  to  imprisonment  for  ten 
years.  Ten  years  !  A  long,  long  night  stared  us  in  the 
face. 

"  Your  Highness  has  taken  me  by  the  hand.  Your  father 
declared  that  he  would  never  voluntarily  offer  his  hand  to  me 
or  my  confederates,  although  it  were  necessary  to  do  so  if  we 
meant  to  give  him  a  pledge  of  our  allegiance. 

"  You  cannot  remember  the  circumstance. 

"  After  being  imprisoned  for  five  years,  we  were  pardoned, 
and  I  and  two  of  my  prison-mates  were  elected  members  of 
the  Parliament. 

"  The  Jurists  objected  to  our  assuming  the  privileges  of 
citizenship. 

"  The  House  which  acknowledged  our  election  was  dis- 
solved, naturally  enough,  by  Metternich's  order.  A  new  one 
met,  and,  as  we  had  in  the  meanwhile  been  re-elected,  it 
confirmed  the  validity  of  our  election.  Your  father — I  fully 
acknowledge  his  many  acts  of  benevolence — was  obliged  to 


330 


WALDFRIED. 


extend  his  hand  to  us  in  order  that  we  might  take  the 
oath. 

"  There  are  no  words  that  fitly  describe  the  wicked  man 
who  lived  in  the  imperial  city,  and  to  whom  the  sovereign 
German  princes  were  obedient  subjects.  In  future  days  it 
will  seem  incredible,  that,  in  obedience  to  orders  from  Vi- 
enna, the  German  princes  ordered  our  youth,  under  heavy 
penalties,  to  desist  from  improving  their  physical  strength 
by  gymnastic  exercises. 

"  Perhaps  you  never  knew  that  even  singing  clubs  were 
forbidden,  and  that  officials  who  had  been  connected  with 
them  were  regarded  with  suspicion. 

"  Is  it  conceivable  that  a  government  which  forbids  phys- 
ical development  by  means  of  gymnastics,  and  spiritual  ele- 
vation by  means  of  song,  can  for  a  moment  have  faith  in  its 
own  stability  ? 

"  I  am  not  easily  moved  to  hatred ;  but,  even  now,  the 
name  of  that  man  fills  me  with  indignation. 

"What  crime  had  we  been  guilty  of?  Why,  only  this  : 
with  a  youthful  confidence  in  solemn  promises,  we  had  sim- 
ply held  fast  to  the  idea  that  Germany  had  freed  itself  from 
the  Corsican  yoke  in  order  to  become  a  free,  united  em- 
pire. 

"  You  cannot  conceive,  your  Highness,  how  many  noble- 
hearted  men  were  thrown  into  dungeons,  or  driven  into  exile 
in  those  days.  Who  can  measure  what  noble  gifts  ran  to 
waste. 

"When  I  think  of  these  things,  a  sad  picture  presents  it- 
self to  my  mind's  eye. 

"  Among  our  fellow-prisoners  at  the  fortress,  there  was  a 
young  man  who  had  already  begun  to  lecture  at  the  university. 

"  His  father  was  an  eminent  philologist,  and  had  been  re- 
moved from  his  professorship  for  permitting  himself,  while 


WALDFRIED. 


331 


lecturing,  to  indulge  in  expressions  in  favor  of  liberty.  In  a 
material  sense,  he  was,  fortunately,  well-to-do.  His  family 
owned  a  large  estate  in  the  forest  country,  whither  he  re- 
paired, takfng  with  him  his  collections  of  antiques  and  his 
books. 

"  The  son  sickened  while  in  prison,  and  a  wasting  fever 
undermined  his  youthful  strength ;  and,  as  his  days  were 
numbered,  the  physician  at  the  fortress  requested  the  author- 
ities to  release  him. 

"  I  have  positive  information — as  the  sister  of  that  young 
man  afterward  became  my  wife — that  our  Prince,  your  father, 
was  willing  to  grant  the  discharge.  But,  before  it  could  be 
carried  into  effect,  it  was  necessary  to  ask  for  Metternich's 
permission — and  Metternich  refused  it. 

"  The  commandant  of  the  fortress  held  me  in  great  es- 
teem, and  permitted  me,  on  his  own  responsibility,  to  be 
placed  in  the  same  cell  with  the  sick  prisoner. 

"  I  nursed  him  faithfully,  and  watched  his  every  movement. 
I  shall  never  care  to  recall  the  thoughts  that  passed  through 
my  mind  during  the  long  days,  and  still  longer  nights,  that  I 
passed  at  his  bedside.  He  was  slowly  sinking  ;  for  confine- 
ment was  killing  him,  and  yet  no  word  of  complaint  ever  fell 
from  his  lips. 

"His  father  came  and — could  you  imagine  it? — was 
not  allowed  to  converse  with  his  son  except  in  the  presence 
of  a  guard. 

"  Then  came  his  sister,  only  fifteen  years  old — but  of  that  no 
matter  at  present. 

"The  noble  martyr  died.  He  was  buried  in  the  village  at 
the  foot  of  the  fortress. 

"  While  these  things  were  going  on,  there  was  dancing  and 
dining  at  Court,  and  Metternich  was  writing  witty  billet-doux. 

"You,  of  course,  have  never  heard  of  these  things. 


332 


WALDFRIED. 


"Through  the  bars  of  our  prison,  we  could  look  out  into 
the  fortress-yard  and  see  the  coffin  placed  on  the  wagon  that 
was  to  carry  it  to  the  grave.  But  why  should  I  revive  the 
anger  and  sense  of  disgrace  that  filled  our  hearts  at  that  mo- 
ment ?  And  who,  on  the  other  hand,  would  have  the  right 
to  condemn  us  prisoners  if,  when  at  last  free,  we  should  in- 
dulge in  deeds  of  vengeance? 

"  Your  Highness  will  understand  that  I  am  only  telling  you 
of  these  matters  so  that  you  may  have  an  idea  of  the  sacri- 
fices that  were  made  to  bring  about  the  result  which  is  now  to 
be  consummated  through  a  struggle  of  life  and  death." 

"  I  know  it — I  know  it  well ;  pray  go  on." 

I  plucked  up  my  courage  and  continued  :  "  My  parents 
died  while  I  was  a  prisoner.  When  I  was  at  last  discharged, 
I  had  lost  all  taste  for  a  clerical  calling.  I  was  down  in  the 
village  standing  by  the  smithy,  saw  the  blazing  fire  and 
watched  the  heavy  hammers,  and  I  yearned  for  just  such 
hard  manual  labor.  I  begged  the  smith  to  take  me  as  his 
apprentice,  and  he  at  once  handed  me  a  hammer.  I  was 
there  but  a  week,  when  the  father  of  the  young  man  who 
had  died  in  prison  came  and  took  me  to  his  estate." 

"And  you  married  his  daughter  ?  " 

"Yes." 

"  And  does  she  still  live  ?  " 

"  No ;  she  died,  as  I  am  unfortunately  forced  to  believe, 
through  grief  on  account  of  the  desertion  of  our  youngest  son 
just  before  the  war  of  1866." 

"  I  know  it,  I  know  it.  I  hear  that  your  son  is  serving  in 
the  French  army  in  Algiers  ?  I  know,"  he  said,  interrupting 
himself  when  he  saw  my  painful  agitation,  "  what  grief  this 
son  has  caused  you.  If  it  were  in  your  power  to  send  him 
word,  he  might,  if  he  would  deliver  himself  up  of  his  own 
will,  be  received  back  into  the  army  with  some  trifling  pun- 


WALDFRIED. 


333 


ishment,  and  might  afterward  by  his  bravery  distinguish 
himself,  and  all  would  be  well  again.  But,  of  course,  at 
present,  communication  is  impossible  either  through  diplo- 
matic or  private  channels." 

I  was  obliged  to  admit  that  I  did  not  know  of  Ernst's 
whereabouts. 

Strange  it  is  how  a  poet's  words  will  suddenly  come  to 
one's  aid. 

"  *  My  son  is  like  a  different  man,'  "  said  I,  with  the  words 
taken  from  the  history  of  my  friend ;  and  I  was  myself  as- 
tonished by  the  tone  in  which  I  spoke.  I  had  enough  self- 
command  to  say  that  our  present  troubles  required  that  all 
should  be  united,  and,  that  we  should,  therefore,  not  compli- 
cate them  by  introducing  our  own  personal  interests ;  nor 
did  I  conceal  the  fact  that  I  had  lived  down  my  sorrow  on 
account  of  Ernst,  and  had  almost  ceased  to  be  haunted  by 
the  thought  of  him.  It  pained  me,  nevertheless,  to  listen 
to  the  well-rounded,  sentences  in  which  the  Prince  praised 
the  Roman  virtue  that  indulged  my  love  of  country  at  the  ex- 
pense of  my  feelings  as  a  father.  He  seemed  pleased  with  this 
conceit  of  his,  and  repeated  it  frequently.  1  felt  quite  disen- 
chanted. 

Thoughts  of  Ernst  almost  made  me  forget  where  I  was,  or 
what  I  was  saying,  until  the  Prince  requested  me  to  resume 
my  story,  unless  I  found  it  too  fatiguing. 

I  continued : 

"  When  I  think  of  the  times  before  1830,  I  see  opposed 
to  each  other  extravagant  enthusiasm  and  impotence, 
courageous  virtue  and  cowardly  vice,  chaste  and  •  devoted 
faith  in  the  ideal,  and  mockery,  ridicule,  and  frivolous  dis- 
belief in  all  that  was  noble— the  one  side  cherishing  right- 
eousness, the  other  scoffing  at  it.  In  other  words,  on  the 
one  side,  Uhland  ;  on  the  other,  Metternich. 

"  My  relations  with  my  family,  with  the  community  in  which 


334 


WALDFRIED. 


I  lived,  and  even  in  a  wider  circle,  were  happy  enough.  But 
the  thought  of  my  distracted  Fatherland  remained,  and  filled 
my  heart  with  grief  that  could  not  be  assuaged.  I  lived  and 
suffered  for  the  general  good,  and  my  associates  did  the  like ; 
but  the  storm-cloud  was  always  impending  over  us,  and  we 
were  obliged  to  learn  how  to  go  about  our  daily  work  with 
fresh  and  cheerful  hearts,  although  danger  threatened ;  to  be 
patient  for  the  sake  of  the  people,  and  to  look  into  our  own 
hearts  for  strength. 

"The  best  men  of  our  Fatherland  were  deeply  anxious  to 
be  up  and  doing,  but  we  were  condemned  to  the  worst  lot 
of  all :  a  life-long  opposition. 

"While  we  were  languishing  for  healthy  political  action,  our 
minds  were  filled  with  a  bitter  and  consuming  protest  against 
the  miserable  condition  of  our  affairs. 

"  It  is  hard  when  one's  whole  being  is  in  conflict  with  his 
surroundings." 

I  went  on  to  tell  him  of  the  great  hopes  that  the  spring  of 
1848  had  inspired  us  with,  and  that  I,  too,  had  had  (.he  good 
fortune  to  be  permitted  to  assist  in  building  up  the  great 
Fatherland,  and  to  have  been  in  the  confidence  of  the  best 
men  of  my  time.  I  told  him  of  the  sad  days  when  our  so- 
called  "  Rump  Parliament "  was  dispersed  by  the  soldiers, 
and  also  spoke  of  my  son  Ludvvig. 

"  I  understand  that  your  son  has  become  a  man  of  great 
ability  and  force  of  character,  and  that  he  distinguished  him- 
self in  the  war  with  the  slave  States  ?  "  sard  the  Prince. 

I  was  surprised  to  find  how  well  he  was  informed. 

And  then  the  Prince  added,  in  an  animated  voice  :  "  You 
are  an  enthusiastic  friend  of  Prussia  ?  " 

"  I  am  ;  for  in  Prussia  I  recognize  the  backbone  of  our 
national  existence ;  she  is  not  prepossessing,  but  steadfast 
and  reliable. 


WALDFRIED. 


335 


"  I  lived  at  the  time  of  the  war  of  liberation  ;  mary  who 
were  of  my  age  took  part  in  the  war  that  saved  us.  Our 
section  stood  with  Napoleon,  but  Prussia  saved  Germany. 
She  has  dallied  a  great  while  before  claiming  her  reward  for 
that  service ;  but  at  last  she  receives  it." 

The  Prince  arose,  and,  resting  both  hands  on  his  writing- 
table,  said,  "  That  is  the  very  reason  I  sent  for  you.  Both 
they  and  we — both  high  and  low — must  extinguish  the  mem- 
ories of  1866.  We  have  all  much  to  forgive,  and  much  to 
learn." 

And  then  the  Prince  asked  me  whether  I  believed  that 
the  majority  of  the  House  of  Delegates  agreed  with  us  ? 

I  was  obliged  to  express  my  doubts  on  that  head. 

"  I  have  made  up  my  mind,  however,"  exclaimed  the 
Prince,  "whether  the  delegates  agree  with  me,  or  otherwise. 
You  are  an  old,  tried  soldier.  Are  you  ready  to  ally  yourself 
with  me — no,  not  with  me — with  the  Fatherland  ?  " 

"  How  ?  " 

"Call  it  a  coup  tfetat,  if  you  choose — we  dare  not  let 
names  frighten  us — these  are  times  in  which  legal  forms 
must  be  disregarded.  Are  you  willing  to  accept  the  presi- 
dency of  my  cabinet,  so  that  your  fair  name  may  lend  its 
lustre  to  my  actions  ?  You  shall  bear  testimony  to  my  love 
of  country." 

"  I  am  willing,  your  Highness,  to  sacrifice  the  short  span 
of  life  that  is  yet  left  me ;  but  I  am  not  an  adept  in  state 
affairs." 

"  That  is  no  matter ;  others  will  attend  to  that.  What  I 
require  is  the  moral  influence  of  your  presence.  Your  son- 
in-law,  Colonel  Karsten,  is  willing  'o  accept  the  portfolio  of 
Secretary  of  War." 

I  informed  the  Prince  that  I  would  be  obliged  to  insist  on 
important  conditions :  not  from  distrust  of  him,  but  of  his 


336  WALDFRIED. 

noble  associates  who  had  deserted  us  in  1848,  and  had  used 
us  liberals  as  cat's-paws. 

I  told  him  that,  in  my  opinion,  Germany  would  either 
emerge  from  this  war  as  a  great  power,  or  disappear  from 
the  roll  of  nations. 

"  We  hope  for  the  best,  and  we  must  conquer,  for  defeat 
would  be  destruction." 

As  a  first  condition,  I  requested  the  Prince  to  give  me  a 
written  assurance  that  he  resigned  all  privileges  which  would 
interfere  with  German  unity. 

He  smiled.  I  do  not  know  whether  it  was  in  scorn,  or 
whether  he  had  not  heard  my  last  words.  He  rose,  placed 
his  hand  on  my  shoulder,  and  said,  *'  You  are  a  good  man." 

I,  too,  was  obliged  to  smile,  and  answered,  "  What  else 
should  I  be,  your  Highness  ?  " 

"  Is  not  what  you  demand  of  me  equivalent  to  an  abdica- 
tion ?  " 

"  No  ;  it  is  nothing  more  than  retiring  to  the  position  held 
by  the  princes  before  domestic  dissensions  enabled  Louis 
XIV.  to  wrest  Alsace  and  Lorraine  from  the  German  Em- 
pire." 

It  was  with  an  air  of  embarrassment  that  the  Prince  said  : 

"  Here  is  my  hand.  I  have  a  right  to  do  this,  and  desire 
to  be  the  first  to  hail  the  victorious  King  of  Prussia  as  Em- 
peror." 

The  Prince  touched  a  bell,  and  a  lackey  entered,  whom  he 
told  to  bid  Colonel  Karsten  come. 

My  son-in-law  Minister  of  War,  and  I  president  of  the 
cabinet !  Was  it  all  a  dream  ?  My  eye  fell  on  the  picture 
of  the  deceased  Princess,  and  it  seemed  to  resemble  Gus- 
tava  and  to  smile  upon  me. 

The  Colonel  entered.  He  remained  standing,  in  the  erect 
attitude  of  a  soldier. 


WALDFRIED.  337 

The  Prince  informed  him,  in  a  few  words,  that  we  agreed 
with  each  other,  and  submitted  a  proclamation  with  which  the 
Chamber  was  to  be  dissolved,  in  case  the  majority  should 
decide  for  neutrality.  For  the  present,  this  was  to  be  kept 
a  secret. 

The  Prince  then  withdrew. 

Arm  in  arm  with  my  son-in-law,  I  returned  to  my  dwell- 
ing. 

To  think  of  all  that  had  happened  to  me  during  that  one 
day 

Could  this  be  myself?     I  could  scarcely  collect  my  senses. 

Ludwig  had  not  returned,  and  I  was  almost  glad  that  it 
was  so,  for  I  was  not  permitted  to  reveal  what  had  been 
secretly  determined  on. 

Martella  was  still  awake.  She  came  to  meet  me  with  the 
words  : 

"  Father,  you  have  heard  news  of  Ernst.  Did  the  Prince 
give  you  his  pardon  ?  " 

I  could  not  conceive  how  the  child  could  have  had  this 
presentiment,  and  when  I  asked  her,  she  told  me  that  a 
brother  of  the  porter  at  Annette's  house  had  returned  from 
Algiers  and  had  told  her  about  Ernst. 

I  could  not  enter  into  Martella's  plans.  What  mattered 
the  life  of  a  son,  or  the  yearning  affection  of  a  girl?  I 
scarcely  heard  what  she  said — my  heart  was  filled  to  over- 
flowing ;  there  was  no  room  left  for  other  cares. 

One  memory  was  revived.  Years  ago,  the  Privy  Coun- 
cillor had  told  me  that  I  was  well  thought  of  at  court.  At 
that  time  it  was  scarcely  probable.  But  could  it  have  been 
true,  after  all  ? 

Morning  was  dawning  when  I  reached  my  bed.  I  felt 
that  I  would  never  again  be  able  to  sleep,  and  only  wished 
that  I  might  live  a  few  days  longer,  so  that,  if  nothing  else 


338 


WALDFRIED. 


was  left,  I  might  plunge  myself  into  the  yawning  abyss  for 
the  sake  of  my  country. 

It  was  fortunate  that  the   session  was  not  to  begin  until 
noon.     I  slept  until  I  was  called. 


CHAPTER  V. 

THE  Colonel  came  and  told  me  that  the  troops  were 
under  orders. 

I  was  startled.  I  shuddered  at  the  idea  of  using  force 
against  our  fellow-citizens,  and  felt  as  if  I  could  by  my  own 
strength,  oppose  and  conquer  the  demon  of  dissension.  I 
felt  assured  that  I  must  succeed,  and  as  co  nfident  as  if  success 
had  already  been  achieved. 

Ludwig  accompanied  me  through  the  streets ;  they  were 
even  more  crowded  than  on  the  day  before. 

Annette  and  Martella  had  preceded  us,  in  order  to  se- 
cure good  seats.  It  was  with  difficulty  that  we  forced  our 
way  through  the  crowd.  Ludwig  was  obliged  to  shake  hands 
with  many  whom  we  met,  and  was  often  greeted  by  men 
whom  he  did  not  recognize,  and  who  seemed  annoyed  that, 
in  spite  of  the  changes  that  twenty-one  years  had  made  in 
them,  he  did  not  at  once  address  them  by  their  names. 

A  company  of  soldiers  were  mounting  guard  before,  the 
House  of  Parliament.  Ernst  Rontheim,  son  of  the  Privy 
Councillor,  was  in  command.  He  saluted  me  in  military 
fashion. 

I  gazed  upon  the  vigorous  youth,  with  his  ruddy  face  and 
bright  eyes,  and  asked  myself:  "Will  he  this  very  day  be 
forced  to  command  his  troops  to  fire  upon  his  fellow-citizens  ?  " 
Did  he  know  how  full  of  danger  his  post  was  ?  It  required 
a  great  effort,  on  my  part,  to  refrain  from  speaking  to  him. 
At  that  moment,  the  minister  of  war  arrived,  and  the  young 
officer  called  out,  "  Present  arms  !  " 


34O  WALDFRIED. 

In  the  ante-chamber,  and  in  the  restaurant  attached  to 
the  House,  there  were  many  groups  engaged  in  lively  and 
animated  discussions,  in  which  the  speakers  accompanied 
their  remarks  by  forcible  gesticulations. 

The   three   members    who    had  been  fellow-prisoners  of 
mine    at  the  fortress,  were  still  faithfully  attached  to   me 
The  one  whom  we  had  termed  "  The  Philosopher  "  had  dis 
tinguished  himself  by  new  theories  in  political  science,  and 
the  other  two  were  eminent  lawyers. 

Only  one  of  the  members  of  the  old  student  corps  had 
gone  over  to  the  radicals,  but  he  was  recognized  as  the  mos< 
independent  and  the  purest  of  men,  and  was  everywhere 
spoken  of  as  "  Cato." 

The  others  had  remained  true  to  our  colors  ;  and  one  who 
was  known  as  Baribal  called  out  "  What !  Bismarck  ?  If  that 
black  devil  will  bring  about  union,  I  shall  sell  my  soul  to  him ! " 

I  spoke  with  "  Cato,"  when  no  others  were  by,  and  he 
frankly  confessed  that  he  feared  that  this  war  would 
strengthen  monarchism,  and  lhat,  therefore,  he  still  was,  and 
ever  would  be,  a  republican. 

"  We  have,  thus  far,  been  forced  to  act  against  our  wishes, 
and  have  complained  in  secret,  "  he  said,  "  but  if  we  con- 
quer in  this  war,  we  shall  have  voluntarily  become  subjects, 
and  be  happy  in  the  favor  of  their  high  mightinesses.  I  am 
not  a  subject,  and  do  not  wish  to  become  one." 

He  gave  me  a  fierce  look,  and  I  felt  obliged  to  tell  him 
that  he  could  not  be  at  his  ease  while  receiving  honors  from 
people  whom  he  despised. 

He  did  not  feel  that  war  was  inevitable,  but  was  inclined 
to  favor  it,  if  the  German  princes  would  promise  that  the 
constitution  of  the  German  Empire,  as  proposed  in  the 
Frankfort  Parliament,  would  be  adopted  in  the  event  of  our 
.  success. 


WALD FRIED.  34  r! 

"  Cato  "  assured  me  that  even  if  we  were  to  bring  about 
a  union,  it  would  be  such  only  in  name.  Organic  life  can- 
not become  a  harmonious  whole  unless  there  is  freedom  of 
action  ;  and  therefore,  we  must,  first  of  all,  insist  on  guaran- 
tees for  freedom. 

"  Why  do  you,"  said  he  in  conclusion,  "  who  aided  and 
abetted  the  Frankfort  Parliament,  never  mention  it  ?  " 

When  I  told  him  that  this  was  political  orthodoxy,  he  paid 
no  regard  to  what  I  said. 

Funk  once  furtively  looked  towards  me,  and  then  turned 
to  his  neighbor,  with  whom  he  conversed  in  a  low  voice. 

Various  members  who,  it  was  evident,  desired  to  take  the 
lead,  were  walking  up  and  down  absorbed  in  thought. 

I  heard  that  telegrams  had  been  received  to  the  effect  that 
France  would  not  consent  to  further  delay,  and  insisted  that 
all  must  be  absolutely  neutral  or  else  avowedly  take  sides. 

Loedinger,  my  former  prison-mate,  approached  me  and 
said  that  it  would  be  necessary  to  prevent  any  conclusion 
being  reached  on  that  day,  and  that  we  should  govern  our- 
selves by  the  course  that  the  neighboring  state  decided  upon. 

I  asked  him  whether  the  party  had  determined  on  this. 
He  said,  "  No,"  and  told  me  that  his  only  object  was  to 
bring  about  a  postponement  in  case  the  probable  issue 
seemed  adverse  to  us. 

I  felt  that  this  would  be  impossible.  I  entered  the  cham- 
ber more  agitated  than  I  have  ever  been.  I  had  never  in 
all  my  life  been  obliged  to  conceal  anything,  and  now  I  had 
to  face  my  associates  with  a  weighty  secret  on  my  mind.  I 
saw  the  ministers  enter  and  take  their  seats,  and  could  not 
help  thinking,  "  You  will  soon  be  seated  there." 

One  minister  whom  we  knew  to  be  of  our  party  came 
down  to  where  I  was  sitting  and  shook  hands  with  me.  He 
spoke  with  confidence  and  hopefulness. 


342 


WALDFRIED. 


I  noticed  Funk  pointing  at  me,  and  could  hear  the  loud 
laughter  that  followed  on  the  part  of  the  group  that  sur- 
rounded him. 

The  President  took  his  seat ;  the  ringing  of  the  bell  agi- 
tated me  ;  the  decisive  moment  approached. 

I  looked  up.  Annette  nodded  to  me.  Richard  was 
seated  at  her  side. 

1  was  obliged  to  drive  out  all  roving  thoughts,  for  it  was 
now  necessary  to  concentrate  all  my  energies  on  one  object. 

The  proceedings  began.  My  friend  Loedinger,  who  had 
been  seated  at  my  side,  was  the  first  speaker,  and  supported 
the  motion  in  favor  of  taking  the  field.  He  spoke  with  great 
fervor,  and  invoked  the  spirits  of  those  who  had  gone  before  us. 

"  Would  that  the  mighty  spirits  of  the  past  could  descend  to 
us  this  day,"  were  his  words,  while  his  own  utterances  were 
those  of  a  spirit  pure  and  beyond  reproach.  When  he  fin- 
ished his  remarks,  a  storm  of  applause  followed.  I  grasped 
his  hand  ;  it  was  cold  as  ice. 

Funk  requested  the  President  to  preserve  order  in  the 
galleries,  and  said  that  this  was  not  a  Turners'  festival. 

The  President  reminded  him  that  he  knew  his  duty,  and 
meant  to  perform  it,  and  that  Funk,  in  his  eagerness,  had 
only  anticipated  him. 

The  next  speaker  was  "  Cato."  He  unearthed  all  the 
grievances  that  Prussia  had  inflicted  on  the  patriots.  He 
called  on  the  spirits  of  those  who  had  fallen  during  the  war 
of  1866,  and  said  they  might  well  ask  those  who  now  coun- 
selled aiding  Prussia,  "Are  you  willing  to  stand  side  by 
side  with  those  who  murdered  us  in  a  fratricidal  war  ?  " 

When  he  closed,  it  was  evident  that  his  words  had  deeply 
moved  the  assembly. 

I  was  the  next  to  have  the  floor,  and  explained  that,  al- 
though brothers  may  quarrel  among  themselves,  they  are 


WALDFRIED.  343 

brethren  nevertheless,  and  that,  when  an  insolent  neighbor 
endeavors  to  invade  and  destroy  their  home,  they  must 
unite  to  defend  it.  Addressing  my  opponents,  I  exclaimed, 
"  You  know  full  well  what  the  decision  will  be,  and  I  am 
loth  to  believe  that  you  desire  to  embarrass  or  disgrace  it  by 
opposition  and  dissension." 

Great  excitement  followed  this  remark,  and  prevented  me 
from  going  on.  I  was  called  to  order,  but  the  President 
decided  that  my  remarks  had  not  been  personal. 

I  endeavored  to  keep  calm,  and  to  weigh  every  word  be- 
fore uttering  it. 

In  spite  of  this  resolution,  I  forgot  myself,  and  aroused  a 
perfect  storm  of  anger,  when  I  expressed  my  deepest  con- 
victions in  the  following  words  : 

"  You  who  are  seated  on  the  other  side  do  not  believe  in 
neutrality.  Ask  yourselves  whether  this  be  an  honest  game 
that  you  are  playing.  Neutrality  is  a  hypocritical  word 
which,  translated  into  honest  German,  means  willingness  to 
aid  France,  a  Rhenish  confederation,  and  treason  to  the 
Fatherland ! " 

I  was  called  to  order  and  was  obliged  to  admit  that  I 
had  gone  a  little  too  far. 

The  President  interrupted  the  debate,  and  inquired 
whether  the  Chamber  would  permit  him  to  read  a  telegram 
which  had  just  been  received,  and  was  of  some  importance 
in  relation  to  the  subject  under  consideration. 

"  No  !  No  ! "  "  We  are  debating  this  among  ourselves  ! " 
"  Our  deliberations  must  be  free  and  untrammelled  !  "  "  No 
outside  parties  have  a  right  to  interfere  !  "  cried  the  one  side. 

"  Yes  !  Yes  ! "  "  Let  us  have  it !  "  "  Read  it  to  us  ! "  cried 
the  others,  and  all  was  confusion. 

The  President  at  last  restored  order,  and  then  informed 
us  that  the  telegram  was  from  the  House  of  Parliament  of  the 


344 


WALDFRIED. 


neighboring  state.  He  desired  to  know  whether  he  might 
read  it  to  the  assembly.  He  would  permit  no  debate  on 
the  subject ;  those  who  were  in  favor  of  the  reading,  would 
simply  rise. 

The  majority  arose,  and  Loedinger  was  almost  trembling 
with  emotion  when  he  grasped  my  hand  and  said,  "  Brother, 
the  day  is  ours  !  " 

The  President  read  the  telegram.  It  was  to  the  effect 
that-  a  small  though  decided  majority  of  the  Parliament  of 
the  next  state  had  determined  that  their  forces  should  take 
the  field. 

Then  followed,  both  on  the  floor  and  in  the  galleries,  a 
few  moments  of  terrible  confusion  and  excitement. 

Order  was  at  last  restored,  and  the  President  announced 
that  the  business  would  now  be  proceeded  with. 

I  had  the  floor. 

"  Make  no  speech — ask  for  a  vote  at  once,"  said  Loedin- 
ger, as  I  arose.  I  acted  on  his  advice. 

The  vote  was  taken  ;  the  majority  was  ours. 

Loud  shouts  of  joy  filled  the  air,  but  I  felt  happier  than 
all  the  rest.  I  had  been  saved  from  a  fearful  danger. 

Annette's  carriage  stood  in  a  by-street,  awaiting  us.  We 
rode  to  our  dwelling,  and,  when  I  reached  there,  I  felt  like 
one  who,  after  long  and  weary  wandering  over  hill  and 
dale,  can  at  last  sit  down  and  rest.  And  while  I  sat  there, 
with  myriad  thoughts  passing  through  my  brain,  I  could  not 
help  thinking,  "  The  dream  of  my  youth  has  repeated  itself 
— they  only  tried  the  mantle  on  me." 

Shortly  after  that,  Ludwig  returned  home  to  join  his  wife 
and  to  look  after  his  workmen. 


CHAPTER  VI. 

HOW  often  we  had  yearned  for  unity  of  feeling,  and 
an  interchange  of  sympathy  with  our  compatriots  ! 
How  sad  it  was  to  keep  in  our  path  with  the  knowledge  that 
the  feelings  and  aspirations  of  those  whom  we  met  had  noth- 
ing in  common  with  our  own  ! 

The  unity  of  feeling  had  at  last  been  brought  about. 
Every  street  had  become  as  a  hall  of  the  great  temple  in 
which  love  of  country  testified  its  readiness  to  sacrifice  itself. 
Every  valley  resounded  with  the  joyful  message,  "  Awake  ! 
Our  Fatherland  has  arisen  in  its  might !  Hasten  !  for  the 
battle  is  not  yet  over.  The  soul  of  him  who  falls  will  live  on 
in  the  comrade  who  marched  at  his  side.  Now  none  can 
live  for  himself  alone,  but  for  the  one  great  cause." 

After  my  sad  bereavement,  life  had  ceased  to  be  aught 
but  duty,  and  I  would  have  been  ready,  at  any  time,  calmly 
to  leave  the  world.  But  now  my  only  desire  was  to  live  long 
enough  to  witness  the  fruition  of  the  hopes  which,  during 
my  whole  life,  had  filled  my  soul. 

My  children  and  grandchildren,  each  in  his  own  way,  showed 
their  love  of  country. 

Society  at  large  was  now  like  one  great  family,  united  in 
sentiment. 

The  vicar  was  the  first  of  my  family  to  visit  me.  He 
came  to  offer  his  services  as  chaplain  to  the  troops. 
Julius  followed  soon  after.  It  had  gone  hard  with  him 
to  leave  his  wife,  but  he  was  happy  to  know  that  he  could 
at  last  serve  his  country.  It  moved  me  deeply  when  he 


346  WALDFRIED. 

told  me  of  the  courage  and  resignation  his  wife  had  shown  at 
parting.  He  was  accompanied  by  his  brother-in-law,  the 
lieutenant,  who  joyously  confessed  that  he  was  filled  with 
hopes  of  glory  and  rapid  advancement.  He  drew  his  s\vord 
a  few  inches  from  its  scabbard,  and  said,  "  This  blade  has 
lost  patience — it  is  all  athirst." 

My  grandson  Wolfgang  returned  from  the  forester's 
»chool. 

"  Grandfather,  have  my  pine-seeds  sprouted  ?  "  was  his 
i~irst  question. 

"  They  do  not  grow  so  fast,  my  child ;  the  bed  is  still  cov- 
ered with  brushwood." 

He  wanted  to  enter  the  army  as  a  volunteer,  and  was 
quite  sad  when  we  told  him  that  foreigners  would  not  be  ac- 
cepted, and  that  it  would,  moreover,  take  a  good  while  be- 
fore he  could  learn  the  drill.  He  could  with  difficulty  recon- 
cile himself  to  the  fact  that  he  was  not  permitted  to  take 
part  in  the  war,  and  with  a  voice  full  of  emotion,  exclaimed, 
"  Although  my  name  is  growing  on  its  soil,  I  am  not  allowed 
to  fight  for  Germany  !" 

Wolfgang  was  accompanied  by  Annette's  nephew,  the  son 
of  Offenheimer  the  lawyer.  He  desired  to  offer  his  services 
as  a  volunteer.  He  was  a  comrade  of  Wolfgang's,  and  a  stu- 
dent in  the  agricultural  department  of  the  forester's  school. 
His  face  was  marked  by  several  scars,  and  although  he  was 
not  of  a  quarrelsome  disposition,  he  had  been  in  several 
duels.  He  had  served  in  the  Young  Guard,  which,  during 
the  past  few  years,  had  been  recruited  from  the  students  of 
Gymnasiums  and  polytechnic  schools. 

I  inquired  whether  his  father  consented  to  his  entering  the 
service,  and  he  answered  me  in  the  affirmative. 

Shortly  afterward,  his  father  entered  the  room.  In  a 
few  words  he  told  us  that  he  had  expected  this  war,  and 


WALDFRIED. 


347 


then,  turning  to  his  sister,  he  remarked  that  his  son  Alfred 
had  entered  the  regiment  which  had  formerly  been  the  Cap- 
tain's, as  Colonel  Karsten  could  not  take  him  in  his  regi- 
ment. He  also  told  me  that  he  had  fully  determined,  in 
case  the  war  resulted  in  our  favor,  to  withdraw  from  prac- 
tice, and  to  devote  himself  to  public  affairs. 

Offenheimer  was  an  able,  clear-minded  man,  of  liberal 
opinions,  and  free  from  prejudice ;  and  yet  it  seemed  as  if 
this  vow  of  his  had  been  made  in  order  to  assure  himself  of 
the  success  of  our  cause  and  the  preservation  of  his  only 
son. 

Annette  had  always  observed  a  certain  distance  with  her 
kindred,  and  was,  indeed,  kinder  to  Martella  than  to  her 
own  nephew.  But  now,  the  war  and  the  unanimity  of  feel- 
ing which  it  had  induced,  seemed,  even  in  her  case,  to  awaken 
new  sympathies. 

On  the  following  morning,  when  I  was  preparing  for  my 
journey  homeward,  a  messenger  came  from  the  palace  to  in- 
form me  that  the  Prince  required  my  presence.  And  now  I 
went,  in  bright  daylight  and  with  a  peaceful  soul,  to  the 
same  place  that  I  had  approached  during  the  night,  ignorant 
of  what  was  in  store  for  me.  I  was  happy  to  know  that  the 
serious  charge,  which  I  was  hardly  fitted  to  undertake,  had 
not  been  imposed  on  me,  and  I  was,  at  the  same  time,  en- 
couraged by  the  feeling  that  I  had  shown  my  willingness  to 
do  all  in  my  power. 

On  the  staircase,  I  met  the  French  ambassador,  who  had 
just  received  his  parting  audience  ;  and  thus  I  saw  the  last 
French  ambassador  who  witnessed  our  dissensions. 

The  antechamber  of  the  Prince's  apartments  was  full  of 
life  and  bustle.  Adjutants  and  orderlies  were  constantly  com- 
ing and  going. 

I  saw  my  son-in-law,  but  only  for  a  few  moments.     .He 


348  WALDFRIED. 

shook  me  by  the  hand,  and  said,  "My  regiment  marches 
through  your  valley  ;  I  shall  see  you  again  at  home." 

I  was  called  into  the  Prince's  presence.  His  cheeks  were 
flushed  and  his  eye  sparkled.  He  took  me  by  the  hand  and 
said :  "  I  can  only  briefly  thank  you.  I  shall  never  forget 
your  fidelity  and  your  candor.  Unfortunately,  I  can  be  of 
no  service  to  you,  for  you  need  no  favors ;  but  my  heart 
shall  ever  be  filled  with  gratitude  to  you." 

His  kind  words  so  moved  me  that  I  was  unable  to  utter  a 
word  in  reply,  and  the  Prince  continued  :  "  Like  you,  I  am 
forced  ro  remain  at  home.  It  is  well  and  proper  that 
princely  rank  does  not  require  its  possessor  to  command  his 
armies  Leaders  have  been  selected,  from  whom  we  have  a 
right  10  look  for  the  greatest  results  with  the  least  bloodshed. 
Excuse  me  ;  I  regret  that  I  cannot  speak  with  you  any 
longer.  I  shall  be  glad  to  have  you  visit  me  soon  again." 

He  shook  hands  with  me  again,  and  I  was  about  to  with- 
draw in  silence,  when  a  lackey  entered  and  said  that  a 
daughter  of  mine  had  requested  to  see  the  Prince,  and  begged 
that  she  might  speak  with  me  in  his  presence. 

"Let  her  enter.  You  had  better  remain  here,  Herr 
Waldfried." 


CHAPTER  VII. 

r  I  ^HE  door  was  opened   and  in  rushed   Martella,  who 

JL  threw  herself  on  her  knees  at  the  Prince's  feet  and 
exclaimed  :  "  Your  Highness,  Prince  by  the  grace  of  God, 
be  gracious  and  merciful !  Give  me  my  betrothed,  my 
Ernst !  I  shall  not  rise  from  this  spot  until  you  have  re- 
stored him  to  me  again  ! " 

The  Prince  gazed  at  me  in  surprise,  and  I  told  him  that 
this  was  Ernst's  betrothed. 

The  Prince  extended  his  hand  to  Martella.  She  kissed  it 
and  covered  it  with  tears,  when  he  said  to  her  : 

"I  shall  do  all  that  I  can." 

"  Oh,  God  is  gracious  to  you  !  you  are  all-powerful.  G 
how  happy  you  are  that  you  can  do  all  these  things  !  I  knew 
it!" 

The  Prince  said  that  he  was  occupied  at  the  moment; 
that  she  might  go,  and  he  would  attend  to  all  that  was  nec- 
essary afterwards. 

"No,  no  !  "  cried  Martella;  "  not  so.  I  shall  not  leave 
in  that  way.  Now  is  the  right  time.  Let  the  whole  world 
wait  until  this  is  done." 

"  I  have  already  informed  his  father  that  the  deserter  will 
receive  but  a  mild  punishment,  if  he  now  returns  and  helps 
us  to  fight  for  our  Fatherland." 

"  Yes,  yes ;  I  believe  all  that;  but  I  must  have  it  in  writ- 
ing, with  a  great  seal  under  it,  or  else  it  is  of  no  avail,  and 
your  subordinates  will  not  respect  it. 

"  O  Prince  !  the  winter  before  the  fearful  war  you  were 


350 


WALDFRIED. 


hunting  in  the  district  to  which  my  Ernst  belonged,  and  he 
had  much  to  tell  me  about  you  ;  and  he  said  that,  if  one 
considered  how  you  had  been  spoiled,  it  was  wonderful  to 
find  our  Prince  so  well  behaved,  so  just  and  upright  a  man. 

"  And  Rothfuss  said,  'In  such  a  war  as  that  of  1866,  the 
Prince  would  have  been  just  as  willing  to  desert  as  Ernst 
was,  if  he  only  could  have  done  so  ;  but  he  could  not  get 
away." 

The  Prince  gave  me  a  look  full  of  meaning,  while  a  sad 
srnile  played  on  his  lips.  Suddenly  he  turned  to  Martella 
and  asked,  "  And  do  you  know  where  your  lover  is  ?  " 

"  Yes  ;  he  is  with  the  savages  in  Algiers.  He,  too,  was  a 
savage,  but,  by  this  time,  he  must  have  become  tamed.  O 
Prince  !  give  me  the  writing,  and  what  you  write  will  be  set 
down  to  your  credit  in  heaven  !  " 

The  Prince  seated  himself,  and  then  looked  up  from  his 
desk  and  asked,  "  But  what  will  you  do  with  this  letter  of 
pardon  ?  " 

"  Let  your  gracious  Highness  leave  that  to  me.  Just  you 
write — and  blessed  be  the  pen  and  the  ink  and  your 
hand—" 

I  implored  her  to  remain  quiet,  so  that  the  Prince  could 
write,  and  she  grasped  my  hand  with  one  of  hers,  and  with 
her  other  pointed  towards  the  Prince's  pen  and  moved  her 
finger  as  if  following  its  every  stroke. 

When  the  Prince  bad  finished  writing,  he  lit  a  lamp,  and 
Martella  exclaimed :  "  Oh,  if  Ernst  were  only  here,  that  he 
might  thank  you  !  But  mother,  who  is  above,  knows  of  this 
already,  and  joins  me  in  thanking  you." 

Her  vigor  and  beauty,  her  touching  voice,  the  powerful 
and  dazzling  brilliancy  of  her  eyes,  all  seemed  as  if  increased 
by  an  irresistible  charm. 

The  Prince  attached  the  seal  to  the  document  and  handed 


WALDFRIED. 


351 


it  to  her  with  the  words,  "  I  wish  you  success  ; "  and,  turning 
to  me,  added,  "  I  am  glad,  at  all  events,  that  I  have  been 
able  to  be  of  some  service  to  you." 

Martella  was  about  to  kneel  to  him  again,  but  he  begged 
her  to  withdraw. 

We  went  through  the  antechamber  and  down  the  steps, 
and,  when  we  reached  the  foot  of  the  staircase,  Martella 
suddenly  stopped  and  said  :  "  I  have  something  in  which  I 
can  keep  the  letter  of  pardon.  I  still  have  the  embroidered 
satchel,  but  now  I  will  put  in  it  something  better  and  sweeter 
than  the  cake  it  once  held." 

When  we  left,  the  guard  was  just  marching  up  to  the 
palace,  and  the  band  was  playing  "  Die  Wacht  am  Rhein." 
A  crowd  extending  farther  than  the  eye  could  reach  joined  in 
the  song,  and  Martella  exclaimed,  "  The  whole  world  is 
singing  while — "  and  then  her  clear  voice  helped  to  swell 
the  chorus. 

No  one  was  happier  at  Martella' s  good  fortune  than 
Annette,  who,  to  give  vent  to  her  joy,  overwhelmed  Martella 
with  presents. 

Richard  rushed  into  the  room,  exclaiming,  "  The  Crown- 
Prince  of  Prussia  has  been  appointed  commander  of  the 
South  German  forces  !  "  His  face  beamed  with  emotion,  and 
he  triumphantly  declared  that  this  would  seal  the  union  of 
North  and  South  Germany. 

Although  the  younger  members  of  my  family  were  full  of 
ardent  courage,  Richard  had  more  determination  and  elas- 
ticity of  spirit  than  any  of  them.  We  had  at  one  time 
mockingly  called  him  "  Old  Negligence."  But  he  was  no 
longer  the  man  who  procrastinated  in  all  things,  and  who, 
while  conscientious  withal,  was  nevertheless  so  swayed  by 
a  thousand  imaginary  obstacles  that  it  was  difficult  for  him 
to  make  up  his  mind  on  any  subject.  He  told  us  that  he 


352 


WALDFRIED. 


had  offered  to  accompany  the  commander  of  our  army ;  he 
had  written  enough  of  history  in  dead  letters,  and  now  he 
was  anxious  to  witness  living  history,  and  perhaps  to  assist 
in  making  it. 

Annette  had  ordered  the  servant  to  bring  wine,  and 
Richard  exclaimed  :  "  O  father !  it  has  come  at  last.  Self- 
reliance  now  fills  every  heart,  and  that  is  the  rock  of  safety 
for  the  whole  nation.  I  see  it  now ;  a  new  element  has 
entered  our  German  world — a  feeling  that  we  are  all  one.  It 
is  not  a  mere  conglomerate  of  many  thousand  individuals ; 
it  is  something  quite  new  and  exalted — a  divine  revelation — 
the  fire  of  pure  patriotism.  We  stand  in  the  midst  of  a  pillar 
of  fire;  every  individual  is  a  spark;  of  no  value  by  itself, 
but  only  as  a  portion  of  the  pillar  of  fire." 

Richard's  tall  and  commanding  form  trembled  with 
emotion. 

Annette  placed  her  hand  upon  her  heart  and  exclaimed, 
"  And  I  too— I  too." 

She  had  stretched  forth  her  hand,  but  suddenly  cast  her 
eyes  upon  the  picture  of  her  dead  husband,  and  buried  her 
face  in  her  hands. 

After  a  short  pause,  she  said  to  Richard  : 

"  Your  mother  announced  this  to  me.  '  He  will  live  to 
see  the  day,'  she  said,  t  on  which  great  things  will  happen  to 
the  world  and  to  you  all.'  I  did  not  understand  her  words 
then,  but  now  I  believe  I  understand  them." 

Richard  replied,  "  How  strange  it  is  that  you  should  be 
thinking  of  mother  at  this  moment ;  for  I  was  thinking  of 
her  at  the  same  time. 

"  Ah,  father,  when  mother  asked  for  water  from  her 
spring,  and  I  ran  through  the  village  down  into  the  valley, 
and  was  nothing  but  a  child  running  to  fetch  a  draught  that 
would  cool  her  parched  lips  and,  perhaps,  save  her,  I  could 


WALDFRIED. 


353 


not,  at  times,  help  thinking  of  the  story  told  by  Apuleius 
— how  Psyche  was  obliged  to  bring  water  from  the  rocky 
springs  of  the  Styx. 

"  And,  father,  hard  and  puzzling  as  it  then  was  to  under- 
stand how  trees  and  houses  could  exist,  and  that  men  were 
working  in  the  fields,  while  the  breath  of  life  was  flickering 
and  expiring — now,  all  is  clear  to  my  vision.  I  shall  go 
off  with  the  army ;  and  if  I  can  do  nothing  more,  I  will, 
at  all  events,  endeavor  to  refresh  the  spiritual  and  phys- 
ical wants  of  the  children  of  the  Fatherland  for  the  sake 
of  our  mother — unity.  It  would  be  glorious  and  happy 
to  die  when  filled  with  such  emotions ;  but  it  is  more  genu- 
ine and  more  brave  to  persevere  in  small  services  and  sacri- 
fices." 

Annette,  with  her  hands  clasped  upon  her  breast,  gazed  at 
.Richard.  Bertha  entered  the  room  at  that  moment,  and,  by 
her  presence,  brought  about  a  calmer  and  serener  atmos- 
phere than  we  had  just  been  moving  in. 

Bertha,  four  years  before,  had  been  full  of  unrest ;  but  now, 
her  calm,  equable  disposition  manifested  itself  in  all  its  beauty. 

"  That  war,"  she  said,  "  was  an  unnatural  one,  but  this 
contest  is  waged  in  a  holy  and  just  cause,  and  its  consequen- 
ces must  therefore  be  calmly  accepted.  And  things,  too, 
have  changed  with  my  husband;  for  now  fortune  smiles 
upon  him." 

She  told  us  that  an  association  had  been  formed  under 
the  auspices  of  the  Princess,  for  the  purpose  of  aiding  the 
families  of  those  who  were  obliged  to  go  to  the  war,  and  to 
prepare  aid  for  the  sick  and  wounded. 

"  I  shall  be  one  of  you,"  exclaimed  Annette.  "  I,  too, 
wish  to  do  my  share  in  the  good  work.  And,  Professor,  I 
shall  remember  your  words,  'It  is  braver  to  persevere  in 
small  services  and  sacrifices.' " 


354 


WALDFRIED. 


Richard  soon  left  for  the  university  town,  where  he  had 
yet  to  make  some  preparations  before  starting  with  the  army. 
He  grasped  Annette's  hand,  and  it  seemed  to  me  as  if  he 
held  it  longer  than  usual;  but  he  only  said,  "We  shall  meet 
again." 

His  long  face,  with  its  large,  full  brown  beard,  bright  blue 
eyes,  and  arched  forehead,  seemed  more  beautiful  than  ever, 
and  his  splendid,  powerful  form  seemed  almost  heroic. 

In  the  evening  I  was  crossing  our  principal  street,  and 
met  Annette  carrying  several  packages  under  her  arm. 

War  kills  one  weakness  which  in  men  is  insufferable, 
and  in  women  difficult  to  bear ;  namely,  false  pride. 

In  such  times,  who  can  stop  to  think  how  he  may  appear 
to  others  ?  You  are  nothing  more  than  a  wonderfully  small 
fraction  of  a  great  and  complete  whole.  And  it  is  this  idea 
which  makes  you  great,  and  lifts  you  above  all  petty 
thoughts. 

How  absurd  we  had  grown  to  be.  It  had  come  to  be  re- 
garded as  improper  for  a  well-dressed  man  or  woman  to 
carry  a  package  while  in  the  street ;  the  dress  of  the  ladies 
was  so  fashioned  that  they  were  obliged  to  use  their  hands 
to  prevent  it  from  dragging,  and  thus  it  was  impossible  for 
them  to  carry  even  the  smallest  package  ;  but  now  all  that 
was  changed. 

Annette  told  me  that  she  and  some  other  ladies  were 
about  to  take  a  course  of  instruction  from  a  surgeon,  in  the 
art  of  dressing  wounds.  She  said  this  simply  and  unosten- 
tatiously. 


CHAPTER  VIII. 

WHILE  Martella  and  I  were  on  our  way  to  the  depot, 
in  order  to  return  to  our  home,  we  were  encountered 
by  a  dense  and  impenetrable  crowd. 

What  could  be  the  matter? 

"  The  Crown-Prince  of  Prussia  is  coming." 

We  stopped. 

The  sounds  of  distant  music  were  heard  mingling  with  the 
joyous  shouts  of  thousands  of  voices.  It  was  the  'cry  with 
which  a  race  welcomed  its  brothers  from  whom  it  had  long 
been  estranged,  and  who  were  now  advancing  to  save  it. 
How  this  must  have  stirred  the  heart  of  the  Crown-Prince  ! 

I  was  so  wedged  in  by  the  crowd,  that  I  could  see  noth- 
ing. Martella  had  ascended  some  steps  back  of  me,  and 
called  me  to  follow  her  ;  but  it  was  impossible  to  do  so. 

I  heard  a  carriage  approach  ;  the  men  who  were  in  front 
of  me  spoke  of  the  splendid  appearance,  and  the  calm,  yet 
determined  expression  of  the  Prince. 

"Father  !"  exclaimed  Martella,  "he  looks  just  like  him — 
indeed,  more  like  Richard." 

The  crowd  at  last  scattered,  and  cheers  were  still  heard 
in  the  distance. 

We  started  for  home.  The  railway  on  the  other  side, 
which  for  some  distance  ran  into  our  valley,  was  obstructed. 
They  were  momentarily  expecting  an  invasion  of  the  French, 
and,  after  that  day,  the  other  line  was  only  to  be  used  for 
military  trains. 

We  rode  on  for  a  part  of  the  way,  and,  at  the  intersection, 


356  WALDFRIED. 

met  a  large  crowd  of  persons  from  the  watering-places. 
They  had  suddenly  been  obliged  to  give  up  the  springs  and 
the  amusements  that  had  there  been  at  their  disposal. 

The  gambling  banks  are  closed,  it  was  said.  I  hoped  that 
they  might  never  again  be  reopened. 

Ludwig  and  his  servants  were  there  awaiting  me.  I  also 
met  Carl,  who  had  been  conscripted,  and  with  him  were  two 
of  the  meadow-farmer's  servants. 

Carl  laughed  while  he  told  us  how  the  meadow-farmer 
grumbled  that  he  was  now  obliged  to  harness  and  feed  his 
oxen  himself.  He  cheerfully  added  that  Marie  could  do  the 
service  of  two  laborers. 

His  joyous  face  made  it  plain  that  before  leaving  home 
he  had  come  to  an  understanding  with  Marie.  When  he 
spoke  of  her  he  pressed  his  left  hand  to  his  heart.  I  think 
he  must  have  had  a  keepsake  there. 

When  Carl  saw  Ikwarte,  he  went  up  to  him  and  extended 
his  hand  saying:  "I  forgive  you.  I  cannot  remain  at 
enmity  with  any  one  whom  I  leave  behind  when  I  go  forth 
to  battle.  Forgive  me,  too." 

Ludwig  asked  Ikwarte,  "  Willem,  would  you  like  to  go  ?  " 

"  I  am  waiting  until  the  Colonel  gives  me  leave." 

"  You  have  never  asked  my  permission." 

"I  have  waited  until  the  Colonel  would  speak  of  it  him- 
self." 

"  Pray  speak  a  few  kind  words  to  my  mother,  for  my  sake," 
said  Carl;  and  I  saw  the  old  spinner  sitting  on  the  lower 
step  of  the  depot.  She  gazed  into  vacancy  as  if  she  were 
dreaming  with  open  eyes. 

"This  gentleman  will  take  you  home  with  him,"  said 
Carl  to  his  mother. 

"  Then  you  will  not  take  me  along  ?  I  must  go  home — 
home — home,"  said  the  old  woman ;  and  Carl  told  me  that 


WALDFRIED. 


357 


Rothfuss  had  brought  the  conscripts  to  this  spot,  and  was  in  a 
neighboring  inn  where  he  was  feeding  the  horses. 

I  endeavored  to  persuade  the  spinner  to  control  her  feel- 
ings. She  murmured  a  few  words  that  I  could  not  under- 
stand, and  which  Carl  explained  to  me.  She  had,  by  hard 
savings,  gotten  seven  thalers  together,  and  wanted  Carl  to 
take  them  with  him,  because  he  would  need  them  while 
away ;  and  that  now  she  was  quite  inconsolable,  because  he 
wanted  to  leave  the  money  at  home  with  her. 

I  took  the  money  from  her,  and  promised  to  send  it  to 
Carl  whenever  he  should  need  it,  through  my  son-in-law  the 
Colonel. 

"  And  how  is  the  great  lady  ? "  said  the  old  spinner. 
"  She  ought  to  have  married  my  Carl — she  always  looked  at 
him  with  so  much  favor ;  and  if  he  were  now  married,  he 
would  not  have  to  go  to  war." 

His  mother's  words  were  unintelligible  to  me,  and  it  was 
with  a  sad  smile  that  Carl  interpreted  them. 

"  Why  have  you  not  told  her  about  Marie  ?  " 

"  I  have  done  so,  but  she  wishes  to  know  nothing  about 
her." 

Ludwig,  accompanied  by  Ikwarte,  started  towards  the 
Rhine.  He  said  that  he  did  not  yet  know  how  he  could 
take  part  in  the  war,  as  he  was  an  American  citizen ;  but 
he  was  resolved  not  to  remain  a  quiet  spectator. 

Carl's  parting  from  his  mother  was  heart-rending.  She 
refused  to  get  on  our  wagon,  and  Carl,  with  tears  in  his  eyes, 
lifted  her  in  his  arms  and  placed  her  there.  During  the 
greater  part  of  our  journey  home,  she  bewailed  the  loss  ot 
her  son,  and  we  drove  on  in  silence,  for  we  felt  so  sad  that 
we  could  not  utter  a  word. 

Martella  was  the  first  to  speak,  saying,  "  It  is,  after  all, 
the  greatest  happiness  to  have  a  mother." 


353 


WALDFRIED. 


I  could  well  understand  what  it  was  that  agitated  her. 

Up  at  the  top  of  the  mountain,  where  we  always  stopped 
to  rest  our  horses,  there  is  a  large  and  shady  beech-tree,  to 
which  was  fastened  the  image  of  a  saint. 

While  at  a  distance  I  could  see  a  white  object  on  the  tree, 
and  when  I  drew  near,  I  recognized  it.  It  was  the  procla- 
mation of  the  King  of  Prussia,  in  which,  in  simple  but  well- 
considered  words,  he  declared  that  he  was  forced  into  wag- 
ing this  war. 

Soon  after  that,  I  met  Joseph,  who  was  delighted  to  see 
me  again.  He  had  engaged  the  guard  of  the  stage-coach 
that  passed  by  there  every  day  to  fasten  the  "  extra"  papers 
to  the  tree,  so  that  the  forest  laborers,  who  at  this  point 
separated  in  order  to  repair  to  their  different  villages,  could 
know  what  was  going  on. 

On  the  following  day,  the  young  Catholic  pastor  of  the 
village  had  the  words  of  the  heretical  king  removed  from  the 
tree  on  which  the  holy  image  had  been  placed,  and  was 
about  to  lodge  a  complaint  against  Joseph  for  his  sacrile- 
gious conduct.  But,  on  the  advice  of  a  lawyer  who  be- 
longed to  his  own  party,  he  desisted,  and  the  tree,  to  this 
day,  is  known  as  "the  newspaper  tree." 

I  crossed  the  boundary  line  and  was  in*  our  own  territory. 
The  people  were  busily  employed  in  changing  the  bed  of  the 
stream ;  and  the  newly  married  stone-mason  asked  me 
whether  work  would  be  continued  during  the  war.  I  told 
him  that  it  would  be,  and  that  we  intended  to  give  employ- 
ment to  the  people  as  long  as  possible. 

Shortly  after  that,  I  even  employed  the  old  spinner's  two 
sons  who  had  been  ordered  out  of  Mlihlhausen ;  and  it  was 
a  very  happy  thought  to  do  so,  as  the  younger  of  the  two 
was  an  excellent  cabinet-maker. 

I  walked  on.      All  along  the.  roadside  I  had  planted  pear- 


WALDFRIED. 


359 


trees ;  they  were  laden  with  fruit.  Will  the  enemy  pluck 
the  fruit  or  destroy  the  trees  ? 

I  saw  the  young  meadow-farmer.  He  was  setting  his 
water-gates,  and  appeared  as  unconcerned  as  if  we  were  liv- 
ing in  peaceful  times.  When  I  passed,  he  looked  up  from 
his  work,  and  said,  "  The  war  does  not  affect  me,  thank  God. 
None  of  my  kindred  are  in  it." 

The  first  house  in  the  village  belongs  to  the  meadow- 
farmer.  He  had  relinquished  the  farm  to  his  son,  and  was 
now  living  on  a  pension  which  the  latter  had  settled  on  him. 
When  he  saw  me,  he  called  out,  tf  Now  you  have  it !  The 
accursed  Prussian  is  at  the  root  of  the  whole  affair  ;  but  the 
Frenchman  will  give  him  a  beating,  for  he  has  caught  hold 
of  the  wrong  fellow  this  time." 

At  home  all  were  in  good  spirits,  and  for  the  first  time  in 
a  long  while,  I  found  myself  in  some  sort  of  sympathy  with 
Johanna. 

"  It  will  soon  be  seen,"  she  said,  "  whether  the  godless 
Frenchmen  are  as  willing  to  sacrifice  themselves  for  their 
country  as  we  are." 

She  praised  the  King  as  a  God-fearing  man  ;  but  to  me  he 
was  simply  a  righteous  German. 

A  happy  change  had  taken  place  with  Johanna's  daughter. 
She  had  always  been  sickly,  and  had  thought  herself  of  no 
use  in  this  world  ;  but  now  she  knew  nothing  more  of  sick- 
ness. She  had  determined  to  join  a  society  which  had  just 
been  organized  by  the  wife  of  the  Privy  Councillor,  in  order  to 
obtain  instruction  in  the  art  of  nursing  the  sick  and  wounded. 

I  was  now  again  in  my  own  calm  and  peaceful  home. 
Rothfuss  informed  me  that  during  my  absence  parties  had 
been  there  to  buy  up  oats  and  hay, — we  still  had  a  good  sup- 
ply left  from  last  year, — and  Rothfuss  had  promised  the  re- 
fusal of  it  to  Kuhherschel,  whom  he  always  favored. 


360  WALDFRIED. 

The  old  hay  was  sent  off,  and  the  new  was  brought  in.  In 
Carl's  place  we  engaged  a  Tyrolese  farmer.  The  early  bar- 
ley was  harvested,  the  ground  was  ploughed  over  again,  and 
the  potatoes  were  dug  up.  How  long  would  affairs  remain 
thus?  The  enemy  might  break  in  on  us  the  very  next 
day,  as  we  were  very  near  the  border.  Our  enemies  claimed 
that  they  were  fighting  in  the  interests  of  civilization,  but 
sent  Asiatic  hordes  against  us. 

The  schoolmaster's  wife  told  us  that  Baroness  Arven  had 
left  for  Switzerland,  taking  a  great  amount  of  luggage  with 
her. 

I  was  determined  to  await  the  enemy  in  my  own  home,  and 
when  Johanna  asked  me  whether  she,  too,  could  go  to  the 
city  and  try  to  be  of  some  use,  I  consented. 

"  But  you  will  remain  with  me,  Martella,  for  you  do  not 
fear  the  French  ?  " 

"  Oh,  I  am  not  afraid  of  them,"  answered  Martella. 

She  had  only  answered  the  latter  portion  of  my  question, 
but  I  did  U  ot  think  of  that  until  afterwards. 


CHAPTER   IX. 

MY  solitude  was  soon  broken  in  upon  by  a  visit  from 
Baron  Arven.  I  was  astonished  to  find  him  looking 
so  sad.  "  Is  there  still  so  much  of  the  old  Austrian  officer 
left  in  him  ?  "  I  asked  myself.  He  soon  relieved  me  of  all 
doubts  on  that  head,  and,  in  a  tone  which  showed  how  he 
had  struggled  with  and  conquered  his  grief,  told  m~  that  in 
many  things,  and  especially  in  religious  matters,  he  and 
his  wife  had  not  agreed.  He  had,  at  last,  conquered  him- 
self, and  had  determined  to  let  her  have  her  own  way ; 
but  now — he  said  it  with  apparent  reluctance — the  long- 
impending  rupture  had  occurred,  under  circumstances 
almost  too  terrible  to  bear.  Although  he  knew  that,  as 
a  Czech  and  a  Catholic,  his  wife  hated  Prussia,  he  could 
hardly  believe  his  ears  when  she  said,  "  All  saints  be  praised  ! 
The  French  are  coming !  Our  deliverance  is  at  hand  ! " 
Her  words  had  provoked  him  into  unpardonable  vehemence 
of  language. 

He  hardly  dared  say  it,  but  she  had  actually  made  -a 
French  flag,  with  the  intention  of  displaying  it  as  soon  as 
the  enemy  should  arrive, — an  event  of  which  she  had  felt 
perfectly  assured.  He  never  thought  that  his  wife  had  politi- 
cal opinions  of  any  kind,  because  mere  abuse  of  Prussia 
does  not  argue  the  presence  of  political  convictions.  He  had 
carefully  avoided  affronting  her  feelings  as  a  Czech  ;  for  he 
well  knew  how  the  Czechs  resent  the  fact  of  their  being 
dependent  on  German  culture.  But  he  could  never  have 
believed  that  her  hatred  of  Germany  could  have  carried  her 


362  WALDFRIED. 

so  far  as  to  allow  her  to  connive  at  the  correspondence  with 
France,  which  was  carried  on  under  cover  of  her  address, 
and  with  complete  ignorance,  on  her  part,  of  its  origin. 

The  village  clergyman  had  been  to  see  her,  and  must  have 
given  her  strange  information,  for  she  now  insisted  on  leav- 
ing for  Switzerland  at  once. 

"  God  be  praised  !  "  said  I,  "  let  her  go."  I  told  him  that 
her  intended  departure  was  already  the  topic  of  common 
talk. 

The  Baron,  however,  feared  that  her  course  might  be 
fraught  with  evil  consequences  to  the  whole  neighborhood, 
as  he  thought  that  her  fleeing  to  Switzerland  might  awaken  a 
panic. 

To  me,  it  seemed  as  if  he  were  trying  to  justify  his  course 
in  allowing  her  to  leave.  I  assured  him  that  no  one  doubted 
his  patriotism,  and  he  begged  me  not  to  divulge  what  he  had 
told  me. 

I  succeeded  in  reassuring  him,  and  he  seemed  to  recover 
from  his  depression.  He  felt  that  I  fully  sympathized  with 
him.  And  can  anything  be  sadder  than  to  find  that  one's 
love  of  country  is  opposed  and  ridiculed  in  his  own  home  ? 
The  antagonism  which  had  so  long  been  veiled  under  courte- 
ous forms,  now  broke  forth  with  redoubled  venom  and  fury. 

"  Your  hearty  sympathy  does  me  good,"  said  the  Baron ; 
"  and  I  feel  like  a  changed  being  since  I  have  unbosomed 
myself  to  you — just  as  if  I  had  withdrawn  my  hand 'from  a 
bleeding  wound,  which  can  now  flow  freely." 

I  understood  him.  Grief  which  has  been  long  repressed, 
and  at  last  finds  vent  in  words,  renews  itself  while  the  suf- 
ferer speaks  of  it. 

When  I  mentioned  this  to  him,  he  took  my  hand  and  held 
it  in  his  for  a  long  while. 

"But  we  must  not  think  of  our  own  little  lives/'   he 


WALDFRIED. 


363 


added ;  "  great  questions  now  claim  us.  If  France  should 
fail  of  success,  she  is  still  France  ;  but  if  we  meet  with  de- 
feat, we  shall  become  the  prey  of  others." 

I  learned  from  him,  for  the  first  time,  that  the  opposing 
bishops  had  handed  in  a  protest  against  the  promulgation  of 
the  doctrine  of  Papal  infallibility,  and  that,  as  the  measure 
had  been  determined  on,  in  spite  of  their  protest,  they  had 
left  Rome. 

When  I  told  him  of  what  had  happened  in  the  city — omit- 
ting, of  course,  all  mention  of  my  interviews  with  the  Prince 
— his  features  assumed  an  expression  of  cheerfulness. 

He  was  about  to  leave,  when  Martella  entered,  and 
asked,  "  May  I  show  it  to  the  Baron  ?  " 

Before  I  could  answer  her  questipn,  she  took  the  letter  of 
pardon  from  her  satchel  and  spread  it  out  on  the  table,  at 
the  same  time  saying  that  Rothfuss  and  Ikwarte  were  fool- 
ish enough  to  think  that  it  was  of  no  account,  because  it 
came  from  so  petty  a  prince. 

Baron  Arven  assured  her  that  the  paper  would  be  of  im- 
mense importance,  if  Ernst  could  be  found  again. 

"  Now  I  shall  not  ask  another  person,"  joyfully  exclaimed 
Martella;  "  that  seals  it  doubly — and  just  see  how  nicely  it 
fits  into  my  little  satchel !  " 

She  replaced  it  in  the  satchel  and  rubbed  her  hands  over 
the  embroidery,  which  represented  a  dog  carrying  a  bird  be- 
tween his  teeth. 

The  Baron  rode  off  just  as  the  letter-carrier  arrived.  He 
brought  me  a  letter  from  my  sister-in-law,  who  lives  in  the 
forest  of  Hagenau.  She  wrote  to  tell  me  that,  on  account 
of  the  war,  her  daughter's  marriage  had  been  hastened,  and 
that,  as  there  was  danger  that  the  incendiaries  might  come, 
she  had  instructed  her  daughter  to  remain  at  Strasburg,  to 
which  place  she  had  sent  all  her  stores  of  linen  and  other 


364 


WALDFRIED. 


valuables.  In  case  any  of  our  ladies  were  alarmed,  she 
would  be  willing,  she  wrote,  to  place  them  under  protection 
at  Strasburg. 

About  that  time,  we  had  sorrow  in  our  house  on  account 
of  the  death  of  old  Balbina.  She  had  been  our  faithful  ser- 
vant for  thirty  years.  When  we  attempted  to  console  her 
by  saying  that  she  would  recover  from  her  illness,  she  would 
answer,  "  Don't  mind  me  ;  I  shall  go  to  my  good  mistress, 
and  she  will  give  me  the  best  place." 

It  was  not  until  after  my  wife's  death  that  I  learned  how 
much  she  had  done  for  this  servant,  for  then  Balbina  said  to 
me: 

"  I  was  very  wicked,  but  she  converted  me ." 

"Wicked  ?  why,  what  could  you  have  done?" 

"  I  committed  a  theft  when  I  had  only  been  in  the  house  a 
week.  She  caught  me  and  spoke  to  me  in  private,  saying  : 
'  Balbina,  I  dare  not  send  you  off ;  for  then  you  will  steal 
from  others,  just  as  you  have  done  here.  I  must  keep  you 
with  us  until  you  conquer  this  habit.'  And  it  turned  out  just 
as  she  said,  for  during  the  thirty  years  I've  lived  in  this 
house,  my  hands  and  lips  have  never  touched  a  morsel  that 
was  not  mine." 

Balbina  died  without  receiving  extreme  unction.  She  re- 
garded her  confession  to  my  wife  as  having  fully  absolved 
her. 

We  never  interfered  with  the  religious  opinions  of  our  ser- 
vants, but  when  the  priest  told  Balbina  that  Protestants 
would  not  go  to  heaven,  she  answered,  "  I  don't  want  to 
go  to  any  other  heaven  but  the  one  where  my  mistress  is." 

We  were  now  on  the  high  road  towards  political  unity, 
but  was  not  the  antagonism  in  religious  matters  greater  than 
ever  before  ? 

Ludwig  wrote   to  Conny,  informing  her  that   he  would 


WALDFRIED. 


365 


soon  return.  She  often  told  me  that  her  father,  had,  until 
his  dying  hour,  cherished  a  love  of  the  Fatherland,  and  that 
no  two  men  had  ever  had  more  beautiful  and  affectionate 
relations  with  each  other  than  Ludwig  and  her  father. 

Their  projected  journey  to  Italy  was  out  of  the  question. 
How  could  they  now  find  pleasure  in  works  of  art  ?  Lud- 
wig would  not  rest  content  until  he  could,  in  some  way,  be 
of  service  to  his  country. 

Suddenly,  there  was  great  commotion  in  the  village  and 
cries  of  "  The  French  are  coming !  "  were  heard. 

Lerz  the  baker  had  been  driving  along  the  valley-road  at 
full  tilt,  and  had  called  out  to  the  people  who  were  working 
in  the  fields,  "  Unhitch  your  horses !  the  French  are  coming  ! " 
They  took  the  animals  from  their  wagons  and  ploughs  and 
hurried  homeward.  But  it  soon  turned  out  that  the  news 
was  false. 

I  do  not  think  that  this  was  wanton  spite  on  the  part  of 
Lerz.  He  swore — although  his  oath  was  of  but  little  value 
— that  a  farmer  from  down  the  valley  had  told  him  that  he 
had  seen  the  French.  The  rumor  had  indeed  been  spread 
far  and  near,  but  no  one  could  tell  who  had  started  it. 


CHAPTER  X. 

WHAT  could  it  have  been  that  made  me  feel  so  proud 
when  my  fellow-citizens  elected  me  as  their  delegate  ? 
I  was  still  full  of  self-love,  for,  when  I  searched  in  my  own 
heart,  for  the  real  cause,  it  lay  in  a  self-complacent  satisfac- 
tion in  the  fact  of  my  being  the  chosen  representative  of 
many  others. 

All  this  was  now  changed.  Now  none  were  chosen,  but 
all  were  called.  The  whole  people  had  become  freed  from 
egotism,  and  no  one  was  isolated.  Of  course  the  sacrifice 
was  not  made  without  a  pang.  All  thoughts  were  no  longer 
centred  on  one  man,  but  were  directed  towards  a  great  in- 
visible object  which  was  cherished  by  the  whole  people. 

Sunbeams  seemed  to  light  up  every  tree  and  house,  and 
the  whole  world  seemed  to  have  undergone  a  change. 

And  how  all  felt  drawn  towards  each  other;  they  had 
ceased  to  be  strangers — we  could  not  have  enemies  in  our 
own  land. 

I  met  Funk  and  could  not  avoid  shaking  hands  with  him 
and  saying,  "  I  admit  that  you  thought  you  were  acting  for 
the  best,  in  all  you  have  done." 

"Thanks  for  your  good  opinion,"  answered . Funk,  while 
he  barely  returned  the  pressure  of  my  hand.  I  made  no 
reply.  I  had  followed  my  own  convictions,  and  that  is  always 
well,  even  though  others  do  not  approve  of  one's  course. 

I  drove  to  town  with  Joseph,  in  order  to  attend  the  weekly 
market.  It  had  never  been  so  numerously  attended,  for 
every  one  that  could  manage  to  procure  a  vehicle,  or  get 
away  from  home,  hurried  to  town  in  order  to  learn  what  was 


WALDFRIED.  367 

going  on  in  the  world.  And,  besides  that,  all  wanted  to  as- 
sure themselves  whether  it  would  be  best  to  sell  supplies  to 
the  dealers  at  present  prices,  or,  to  wait  for  an  advance, 
and  run  the  risk  of  being  plundered  by  the  French  in  the 
meanwhile. 

It  was  soon  seen  who  believed  that  the  Germans  would 
succeed,  and  who  believed  in  the  French.  Schweitzer- 
Schmalz,  and  a  large  number  who  followed  his  example,  sold 
their  hay,  their  oats,  and  their  bacon. 

Joseph  speedily  became  the  centre  of  a  large  crowd.  He 
excels  us  all  in  knowing  how  to  adapt  himself  to  people  of 
every  kind.  His  fine,  large  figure  and  cordial  manner  make 
him  a  universal  favorite,  while  his  well-known  riches  are 
not  without  weight. 

The  crowd  were  impatient,  and  complained  that  we  had 
not  yet  heard  of  any  actual  hostilities.  He  asked  them  : 

"  Have  you  never  been  in  a  saw-mill  ?  " 

"  Certainly  we  have." 

"  Well,  how  do  they  manage  there?  They  set  the  wheel 
and  let  the  water  run  until  the  log  is  in  the  proper  position ; 
then  they  go  ahead  and  saw  it  right  through.  Have  a  care. 
The  Prussian,  or,  as  we  had  better  say,  the  German,  waits 
until  the  log  is  in  the  proper  position,  and  then  he  goes  to 
work  with  seven  saws  at  once." 

Joseph  understood  the  feelings  of  the  people,  and  felt 
especial  satisfaction  that  Schweitzer-Schmalz  seemed  quite 
lonely  and  deserted  in  the  midst  of  the  crowd.  He  simply 
smiled,  when  Schweitzer-Schmalz  said,  "This  little  fellow. 
Joseph  is  all  talkj  like  the  Prussians." 

Joseph  and  I  called  on  Martha,  for  I  had  promised  Julius 
to  visit  his  wife  as  soon  as  possible. 

We  found  her  and  the  rest  of  the  family  calm  and  resigned, 
although  the  son  and  the  son-in-law  were  in  the  field. 


368 


WALDFRIED. 


For  the  first  time  since  I  had  known  him,  the  Privy  Coun- 
cillor revealed  a  sense  of  his  noble  birth.  He  dwelt  on  the 
fact  that,  as  a  member  of  one  of  the  oldest  families  in  the 
land,  he  belonged  to  the  order  of  St.  John,  and  that  he  and 
JJaron  Arven  would  soon  enter  on  their  duties  as  members. 
He  explained  to  me  that  it  was  an  old  order,  but  that  a  man 
like  myself  might  also  become  a  member.  I  had  never 
thought  of  that  before,  but  now  it  struck  me  forcibly. 

The  ladies  requested  me  to  accompany  them  to  the  court- 
house, where  the  Sanitary  Commission  was  to  assemble.  On 
the  steps,  I  met  Remminger,  the  so-called  "peace-lieuten- 
ant." 

He  seemed  quite  agitated,  and  urgently  requested  me  to 
accompany  him  to  the  house  of  his  father-in-law,  where  he 
wanted  me  to  act  as  umpire.  He  gave  me  no  further  infor- 
mation, but  said  that  I  should  find  out  all  about  it  when  we 
arrived  there. 

I  found  the  family  in  great  distress.  The  lieutenant,  who 
had  left  the  army  on  account  of  marrying  the  daughter  of 
Blank,  the  rich  lumber-merchant,  had  become  quite  an  adept 
in  his  new  calling,  but  had  been  even  more  devoted  to  the 
pleasures  of  the  chase.  He  had  just  announced  his  inten- 
tion to  enter  the  army  again  ;  in  justice  to  himself,  he  could 
not  remain  a  mere  looker-on  in  the  moment  of  danger. 

Old  Blank  maintained  that  this  was  a  breach  of  promise, 
and  I  saw  how  the  lieutenant  clenched  his  fists  when  he 
heard  that  expression  ;  but  he  controlled  himself  and  calmly 
explained  the  matter,  stating,  at  the  same  time,  that  he  asked 
me  to  decide  between  them. 

I  knew  all  about  Blank.  He  was  one  "of  those  men  of 
whom  one  can  say  nothing  evil,  and  nothing  good.  All 
that  he  asked  of  the  world  was  to  be  left  undisturbed  while 
attending  to  his  business  and  adding  to  his  wealth.  He 


WALDFRIED.  369 

was  a  zealous  reader  of  the  newspapers,  at  J  would  smoke 
his  good  cigar  while  enjoying  them.  It  suited  him  best  when 
there  was  lots  of  news.  Others  might  act  for  the  state,  the 
district,  and  even  for  the  community,  so  that  he  might  read 
about  what  they  had  done.  He  could  not  realize  that  one  who 
belonged  to  his  family  could  care  to  exert  himself  for  the 
general  good.  I  saw  this  in  every  word  that  he  uttered.  I 
allowed  him  to  speak  for  some  time  without  replying. 

"And  what  is  your  opinion?"  I  said,  addressing  the 
lieutenant's  wife,  who  stood  by  the  window,  plucking  dead 
leaves  from  the  plants  that  were  placed  there. 

"  Shall  I  call  in  our  three  children,  so  that  you  can  ask 
them  ?  "  she  answered,  in  a  harsh  voice. 

"  Little  children  have  no  opinions  as  yet ;  but  their  pa- 
rents ought  to  think  for  them." 

I  asked  old  Blank  whether  he  would  be  satisfied  with  my 
decision. 

"  Since  you  ask  in  that  way,  you  are,  of  course,  opposed 
to  me,  and  for  that  reason  I  say  no." 

I  saw  that  I  could  be  of  no  use,  declared  that  I  would  not 
attempt  to  decide,  and  left  the  family  to  settle  their  dispute 
among  themselves. 

When  I  left  there,  I  was  the  more  pleased  to  meet  the 
Councillor  Reckingen,  who  lived  in  the  town,  and  who  had 
visited  me  shortly  after  Ernst's  flight.  He  had  conquered 
his  feeling  of  loneliness  and  grief  at  the  shocking  death  of 
his  wife.  He  lived  alone  with  his  only  daughter,  and  had 
devoted  all  his  time  to  her  education.  She  was  just  budding 
into  womanhood. 

This  man,  who  had  always  seemed  troubled  and  absent- 
minded,  now  approached  me  with  a  cheerful  smile,  and  said 
that  he  had  the  good  fortune  to  be  again  permitted  to  enter 
on  his  calling;  and  that,  as  a  result,  his  child,  who  had  been 
24 


370 


WALDFRIED. 


so  constantly  with  him  that  he  had  begun  to  be  alarmed  for 
her  future,  would  now  be  obliged  to  accustom  herself  to  a 
life  of  self-reliance  and  activity;  for  the  wife  of  the  Privy 
Councillor  had  already  expressed  her  willingness  to  have  his 
daughter  stay  with  he*  during  the  campaign. 

We  were  standing  b)  the  stream,  where  the  water  rushes 
over  the  dam  with  a  mighty  roar,  and  he  said  : 

"  You  are  like  me  ;  in  great  times  all  little  troubles  dis- 
appear, just  as  the  thundering  of  these  falling  waters  drowns 
all  other  sounds." 

I  passed  a  delightful  hour  with  the  Councillor  in  his  lovely 
garden,  which  was  carefully  and  tastefully  kept.  He  had 
been  very  fortunate  in  cultivating  roses,  and  I  was  obliged 
to  permit  him  to  pluck  a  lovely  one  for  me  from  every  bush. 

"  She  loved  roses,  and  cared  for  them  above  all  things," 
were  his  words  while  he  handed  me  the  nosegay. 

According  to  promise,  Ludwig  returned,  bringing  Ikwarte 
with  him.  He  had  written  to  Conny  and  Wolfgang  to  come 
to  town.  He  told  us  that  he  had  caused  his  name,  and  also 
Wolfgang's  and  Ikwarte's,  to  be  entered  with  the  Sanitary 
Corps.  They  wore  the  white  band  with  the  red  cross  on 
their  arms,  and  soon  started  in  the  direction  of  the  Rhine  to 
join  the  main  army. 

Conny  went  home  with  me. 


CHAPTER  XI. 

WHEN  we  reached  the  saw-mill,  a  wood-cutter  was 
waiting  for  me,  and  told  me  that  Rautenkron,  the 
forester,  urgently  requested  that  I  would  come  to  him  at 
the  bone-mill  which  lay  in  the  adjacent  Ilgen  valley. 

The  wood-cutter  told  me  that  one  could  hardly  recognize 
Rautenkron — something  horrible  must  have  happened  to  him. 

I  found  Rautenkron  seated  in  the  bone-miller's  room.  He 
said  to  the  miller,  "  Put  enough  bones  into  your  kiln,  old 
Adam,  so  that  you  may  keep  away  for  an  hour,  and  then  go 
and  leave  us  by  ourselves." 

The  miller  left. 

"  Take  a  seat,"  he  said,  in  a  tone  to  which  I  was  unused 
in  him ;  his  features  and  his  manner  seemed  changed. 

After  a  forced  laugh,  he  thus  began  :  "I  have  bought 
my  bones  back  from  this  man — I  had  sold  them  to  him  for 
a  bottle  of  gentian  ;  and  it  used  to  amuse  me  to  think  how 
my  noble  self  would,  at  some  fu-ture  time,  be  converted  into 
grass  and  flowers  on  the  hillside,  and  perhaps  furnish  food 
for  cattle. 

"But,  pardon  me,"  he  said,  interrupting  himself;  "for- 
give me,  I  beg  of  you  ;  I  ought  not  to  address  you  in  that 
tone.  Forget  this,  and  listen  to  me  with  patience.  I  will 
confide  my  last  will  to  you  ;  you  have  often  provoked  me, 
but  now  I  am  glad  that  you  are  here.  The  thought  of  you 
followed  me  in  the  woods,  sat  by  me  at  my  bedside,  and  has 
deprived  me  of  rest.  I  have  always  wanted  to  learn  what 
your  weak  side  was,  and  now  I  have  ^found  it  out 


372  WALDFRIED. 

"  My  father  was  a  worldly-wise  man.  He  divided  mankind 
into  two  classes — charlatans  and  weaklings.  He  maintained 
that  in  all  that  is  termed  love,  be  it  love  of  woman  or  love 
of  the  people,  there  is  a  large  portion  of  charlatanry,  which 
at  first  consciously,  and  afterward  without  our  knowing  it, 
deceives  both  ourselves  and  others.  You  are  not  a  charla- 
tan— but  you  are  vain. 

"Do  not  shake  your  head,  for  it  is  so.  Of  course,  vanity 
is  not  a  vice  ;  but  it  is  a  weakness,  for  it  shows  dependence 
on  others.  You  offered  your  hand  to  Funk,  because  you 
felt  too  weak  to  have  an  enemy  running  about  in  this  world. 
Since  I  have  made  that  discovery  and  convinced  myself  on 
that  point,  you  no  longer  worry  me.  You  too  have  your 
share  in  the  misery  that  belongs  to  the  species  of  vermin 
that  terms  itself  man.  It  is  out  at  last — now  I  have  noth- 
ing more  against  you.  Indeed,  I  cannot  better  prove  this 
than  by  the  fact  of  my  asking  you  to  help  me.  Usually,  I 
have  not  required  the  assistance  of  others,  but  now  I  need 
yours  ;  and  I  think  that  is  enough  to  make  you  feel  that  you 
must  aid  me." 

I  consented,  but  in  my  own  mind  I  felt  a  dread  of  this 
man,  who,  in .  his  bitter  candor,  seemed  much  more  terrible 
than  when  taciturn. 

"  I  request,  nay  I  demand — "  he  continued — "  do  not 
interrupt  me ;  let  me  speak  for  myself. 

"  Do  you  know  who  I  am  ?  For  years,  I  have  been  called 
by  a  strange  name.  You  cannot  imagine  how  pleasant  it  is 
to  be  so  constantly  a  masker,  in  the  mummery  known  as 
life.  I  shall  not,  at  present,  mention  my  true  name,  but  you 
may  rest  assured  it  is  an  old  and  a  noble  one,  and  related  to 
that  of  Johannisberg. 

"  My  father — he  was  indeed  my  father — had  become  re- 
duced, and  he  led  a  merry  life,  although  1  did  not  know 


WALDFRIED. 


373 


where  the  means  came  from.  At  a  later  day,  I  discovered 
all.  He  purchased  a  captaincy  for  me.  'Purchased,'  he 
said,  but  it  had  really,  so  to  say,  been  presented  to  him.  He 
had  carried  others'  hides  to  market ;  perhaps  a  couple  of 
human  skins  to  be  tanned.  His  master  had  many  of  these 
tanners  in  the  state  vade  mecums  known  as  prisons. 

"  I  was,  as  I  have  told  you,  a  captain  at  Mayenfie,  and 
my  father  lived  near  there,  at  Wiesbaden.  He  was  .known 
as  Hofrath. 

"  I  do  not  know  whether  what  people  call  con  science  ever 
pricked  him,  but  he  was  always  merry  and  fond  of  good  liv- 
ing, and  enjoyed  it  as  much  as  the  stupidest  monk  might  do. 
He  would  always  say  to  me,  *  Conrad,  life  is  a  comedy  ;  he 
who  does  not  take  it  in  that  light,  but  looks  upon  it  in  a 
serious  manner,  spoils  his  own  game.' 

"  I  thought  I  had  much  to  tell  you,  but  I  have  not.  My 
story  is  simply  this  : 

"  My  father  had  a  habit  of  asking  me  about  my  comrades, 
— what  they  were  doing,  what  they  were  thinking  of,  and  to 
whom  they  wrote  ;  and  I  faithfully  told  him  all  I  knew.  You 
may  believe  me  !  I,  too,  was  once  open-hearted.  But,  one 
day,  two  of  my  comrades  were  suddenly  cashiered.  Letters 
of  theirs  had  been  found — not  found,  but  sought — which,  it 
was  said,  contained  treasonable  expressions.  All  of  us  at 
the  garrison  were  beside  ourselves  with  surprise,  aid  I  sus- 
pected nothing. 

"Until  the  year  1848,  our  regiments  had  recruiting  stations 
where  soldiers  were  enlisted  and  received  a  good  bounty. 
In  a  Gallician  regiment  which  formed  part  of  the  garrison  of 
the  fortress — there  were  also  Italian  regiments  in  it — a  very 
clever  young  Pole  had  been  enlisted.  He  learned  the  drill, 
was  a  good  horseman,  and  his  captain  wished  that  he  would 
study  German,  in  oider  that  he  might  become  an  officer; 


374 


WALDFRIED. 


but  he  did  not  care  to  do  so,  and  said  that  he  could  not 
write.  One  day  we  learned  that  he  had  deserted.  They 
found  a  letter  from  him,  although  he  had  said  that  he  could 
not  write.  It  was  in  choice  French,  thanked  the  captain 
for  his  kind  treatment,  and  added  that"  he  had  come  and 
gone  by  the  command  of  others,  high  in  station.  For  some 
days  th'ey  spoke  of  the  fact  that  the  Russians  were  even 
more  successful  than  we  as  spies.  For  this  man  had  evi- 
dently joined  us  only  in  order  to  inform  himself  as  to  the 
disposition  of  the  Gallicians.  It  did  not  strike  me  at  first,  but 
afterward  I  could  not  but  notice  the  fact  that  they  always 
talked  to  me  about  spies. 

"  A  young  Prince  joined  our  regiment.  He  became  an  in- 
timate associate  of  mine,  and  seemed  to  take  a  special  liking 
to  me.  My  father  seemed  much  pleased  with  this,  but  gave 
me  less  money  than  he  had  formerly  done.  I  was  obliged 
to  borrow  from  the  young  Prince  and  to  ask  favors  at  his 
hands.  Yes,  the  world  is  wise,  if  one  only  knew  it  at  the 
right  time.  I  found  it  out  too  late.  Is  it  not  ingenious,  and 
does  it  not  do  all  honor  to  the  human  intellect,  to  discover 
that  it  is  well  to  incur  an  obligation  in  order  to  acquire  more 
perfect  confidence  on  the  part  of  those  to  whom  we  owe  a 
debt  ?  Although  the  -  lynx  out  there  is  ever  so  cunning,  it 
cannot  do  such  work ;  that  is  reserved  for  the  image  of  God. 

"  One  day  my  father  said  to  me — yes,  my  father — '  Conrad, 
(that  is  my  baptismal  name),  '  you  are  now  employed  at  the 
officers'  quarters ;  the  adjutant  of  the  post  cannot  be 
trusted  ;  be  careful  that  you  get  hold  of  something  that  in- 
volves him  ;  but  let  it  be  in  writing.  That  aroused  my  sus- 
picions that  something  was  wrong.  One  day,  a  fellow-officer 
said  to  me,  *  There  is  a  spy  in  our  regiment,'  and  all  the 
other  comrades  laughed.  I  challenged  the  one  who  had  thus 
spoken  to  me,  and — shot.  him. 


WALDFRIED. 


375 


"  But  I  am  anticipating — I  must  first  tell  you  of  another 
matter.  I  always  had  a  great  desire  to  be  a  forester.  I  often 
begged  my  father  to  permit  me  to  leave  the  army,  but  he 
would  not  consent.  And  I  would  have  been  so  glad  to 
marry  and  live  quietly  in  the  woods ;  for  I  had  a  child,  a 
lovely,  beautiful  child. 

"  And  then,  on  account  °f  tne  duel,  I  was  imprisoned  in 
the  citadel.  No  comrade  visited  me. 

"  When  I  left  the  prison,  my  child  and  the  mother  had  van- 
ished. She  had  received  a  letter,  in  my  handwriting — my 
father  knew  how  to  imitate  the  writing  of  others — in  which 
vas  contained  a  considerable  sum,  to  enable  her  to  emigrate 
— and  she  had  left.  A  companion  of  hers  in  the  ballet,  who 
had  been  a  suitor  for  her  affection,  and  had,  heretofore,  been 
rejected,  had  accompanied  her. 

"  My  papers  had  been  confiscated,  and  I  feel  quite  sure 
that  it  was  done  at  my  father's  instance,  for  he  distrusted  me, 
and  wished  to  get  me  out  of  harm's  way. 

"  Among  them  there  was  also  a  memento  of  my  beloved  ; 
it  was  a  little  narrow  red  ribbon  tied  in  a  knot  and  torn 
off  at  both  ends.  She  had  given  it  to  me  in  a  happy  moment, 
and  I  had  fastened  it  on  a  sheet  of  paper  and  had  written 
under  it  '  talisman.' 

"  All  of  my  papers  were  returned  to  me,  but  not  the  ribbon. 
My  father  had  sent  it  in  the  letter  to  my  beloved,  and  had, 
moreover,  written,  in  my  name,  *  By  this  sign  I  request  you 
to  obey  the  bearer  of  this  in  all  that  he  may  require  of 
you.' 

"  My  father  said  to  me  :  '  She  whom  you  call  your  wife  has 
left  by  my  orders.'  Through  a  former  friend  of  hers,  I  re- 
ceived a  letter  in  which  she  asked  me  whether  I  had  caused 
the  child  to  be  taken  from  her ;  because  it  had  suddenly 
vanished  about  the  time  the  vessel  was  leaving." 


376 


WALDFRIED. 


"  What  ails  you  ?  What  alarms  you  ? "  suddenly  ex- 
claimed Rautenkron. 

I  controlled  myself  and  begged  him  to  go  on  with  hi? 
story. 

"  I  left  my  father  and  led  an  adventurous  life.  Pshaw  !  I 
have  even  been  croupier  at  a  gaming-table.  And  there  I 
heard  that  my  father  was  dead.  On  the  day  before,  I  had 
seen  him  staking  rouleaus  of  gold — he  had  not  recognized 
me. 

"  By  chance  I  made  the  acquaintance  of  Baron  Arven,  and 
through  him  I  received  the  appointment  of  forester  in  his 
woods,  after  having,  as  assistant-forester,  learned  my  pro- 
fession from  Hartriegel. 

"  I  bear  a  strange  name,  and  shall  die  with  it.  But,  be- 
fore I  die,  I  shall  put  my  living  bones  to  use. 

"  I  could  not  make  up  my  mind,  but  now  something  has 
helped  me  to  decide.  The  engineer  whom  you  are  employ- 
ing down  by  the  new  mill  which  you  are  building  is  one  of  my 
victims.  I  recognized  him  at  once,  although  he  has  changed 
greatly.  I  do  not  know  whether  he  remembered  me,  but  I 
almost  believe  that  he  did.  He  looked  at  me  carelessly  and 
then  turned  away.  It  is  well  that  I  have  had  a  look  at  one 
of  my  victims.  That  destroyed  the  last  traces  of  indolence 
and  the  desire  to  hide  myself  from  the  world.  I  must  and 
will  live.  The  French  are  coming.  They  have  made  all 
preparations  to  burn  our  woods.  The  little  spectacled 
forest  Junker — you  know  that  I  dislike  him  ;  he  still  acts,  the 
proud  and  overbearing  corps  student,  and,  besides  that,  is 
happily  married,  has  a  fine  hearty  wife  and  boys  like  young 
wolves.  I  have  always  avoided  him  ;  but  I  met  him  to-day 
and  he  handed  me  the  French  newspaper,  in  which  it  is 
joyfully  proclaimed  that  our  woods  will  soon  be  in  flames. 
When  I  read  that,  I  fled.  That  was  enough  for  me.  I  am 


WALDFRIED. 


377 


a  good  shot.  If  they  wish  me  to,  I  can  single  out  my  man 
among  the  enemy  and  bring  him  down  at  the  first  fire.  The 
little  forest  Junker  has  promised  to  look  after  my  duties  as 
forester.  He  said  that  would  be  the  same  as  helping  in  the 
war,  as  he  could  not  leave  home.  Let  him  make  a  virtue 
of  it  if  he  chooses.  My  woods  are  in  safe  hands,  and  I  can 

go." 

He  now  requested  me  to  use  my  influence  with  my  son- 
in-law,  the  Colonel,  and  I  faithfully  promised  that  I  would. 

I  asked  him  whether  he  had  no  memento  of  the  mother 
and  the  child.  He  said  that  he  had  none. 

"  And  has  the  child,  perhaps,  a  keepsake  from  you  ?  " 

"  I  can  remember  none.  But,  yes  !  When  I  saw  it  for 
the  last  time,  I  brought  it  cakes  in  a  satchel  on  which  was 
embroidery  representing  a  dog  holding  a  bird  between  his 
teeth." 

My  hair  stood  on  end. 

"What  was  the  name  of  your  child  ?" 

"  Conradine." 

"  Then  all  agrees — Martella  is  your  child." 

And  the  man  seized  my  arm  as  if  he  would  break  it,  and 
gave  a  cry  like  a  felled  ox. 

After  a  while,  he  regained  his  self-control.  We  hurried  to 
the  village.  On  the  way,  he  told  me  that  he  would  now 
confess  to  me  that  he  had  had  a  letter  from  Ernst.  He  was 
in  Algiers  ;  had  entered  the  army  there  and  had  become  an 
officer.  He  had  told  me  nothing  about  it,  because  he  had 
thought  it  was  of  no  use.  Ernst  had  also  given  him  mes- 
sages for  his  betrothed :  but  he  had  always  kept  them  to 
himself.  "  Spare  me  all  reproaches,"  he  concluded ;  "  I  am 
punished  bitterly  enough.  Oh,  if  they  had  only  been 
united  !  How  shall  I  utter  the  word  '  child,'  and  how  can  I 
listen  to  the  word  '  father '  ?  " 


378  .      WALDFRIED. 

When,  after  leaving  the  saw-mill,  we  began  to  ascend  the 
'hill,  he  called  out  in  a  hoarse  voice  :  "  It  was  here,  in  this 
spot,  that  she  stepped  down  from  the  wagon  in  the  twilight. 
Here,  by  this  very  tree,  I  heard  her  voice.  It  was  that  of 
her  mother — I  could  not  believe  it  at  the  time.  Here,  by 
this  very  tree." 

Rothfuss  came  towards  us.  "  Have  you  seen  her — is  she 
with  you  ?  " 

"  Whom  do  you  mean  ?  " 

"  She  is  gone  off  with  Lerz  the  baker,  who  has  become  a 
sutler.  Oh,  the  damned  hound  ! " 

"Who?" 

"  Martella  is  gone  !  " 

Rautenkron  grasped  a  young  tree  by  the  roadside,  and 
broke  it  in  two  ;  then  he  sank  on  his  knees.  We  lifted  him 
up. 

"It  is  right  thus.  So  it  should  be,"  he  said.  "  Here,  on 
this  very  spot — do  you  remember  ? — I  warned  you  when 
your  wife  went  to  bring  her  home.  Tell  me,  wise  man,  what 
was  that  ?  I  heard  something  in  her  voice,  and  did  not  wish 
to  believe  it.  Turenne,"  he  said,  turning  to  his  dog,  "  you 
killed  her  dog.  Be  quiet ;  I  told  you  to  do  it." 

He  followed  us  to  the  house,  but  did  not  utter  a  word  on 
the  way. 

We  went  to  her  room.  She  had  taken  nothing  with  her 
but  the  embroidered  satchel,  which,  before  that,  had  always 
hung  over  the  mirror;  and  also  Ernst's  prize  cup.  The 
clothes  that  she  had  inherited  from  my  wife  she  had  carefully 
arranged  and  placed  to  one  side. 

We  asked  Rothfuss  how  long  it  was  since  she  had 
disappeared. 

They  had  been  hunting  for  her  ever  since  the  morning  of 


WALDFR1ED.  379 

the  day  before,  but  in  vain.  No  sign  of  where  she  had  gone 
could  be  found. 

Rautenkron  left  the  room  and  went  out  into  the  garden. 
He  sat  there  for  a  long  while,  holding  his  rifle  between  his 
knees.  I  begged  him  to  return  to  the  house  with  me.  He 
was  looking  on  the  ground,  and  did  not  raise  his  head.  I 
asked  him  to  give  me  his  rifle.  He  looked  up  towards  me, 
and,  with  a  strange  smile,  said :  "  Don't  be  alarmed  ;  I 
am  not  such  a  fool  as  to  shoot  myself." 

I  walked  away.  A  little  while  afterward,  I  heard  a  shot, 
and  hurried  out  again.  Rautenkron  sat  there,  holding  his  gun 
with  both  hands,  but  his  beautiful  brown  spaniel  lay  dead  at 
his  feet. 

When  he  saw  me,  he  exclaimed : 

"  Now  I  am  quite  alone.  I  had  intended  to  give  Turenne 
to  you,  but  it  is  better  thus.  The  beast  might  have  been 
stupid  enough  to  long  for  me." 

The  sound  of  drums  was  heard  from  over  the  hills.  The 
Colonel  arrived  Avith  his  regiment,  and  all  hurried  out  to 
meet  him. 

And  the  Englishman  stood  at  the  brook,  angling. 


BOOK    FIFTH. 


CHAPTER  I. 

'T^RUMPETS  sounded,  drums  rolled,  and  songs  from 
-1-  thousands  of  voices  were  heard  in  the  valley  and  on 
the  hills.  All  was  joyous  commotion.  Thus,  singing,  does  a 
nation  take  the  field  for  its  protection  and  salvation. 

In  the  midst  of  anxiety  for  great  things,  for  one's  country, 
we  ought  to  be  troubled  by  no  mere  personal  cares.  But 
who  can  avoid  them?  The  general  sorrow  is  infinitely 
divided,  and  every  one  must  bear  his  share. 

That  my  son-in-law,  two  grandchildren,  and  a  faithful  ser- 
vant had  gone  to  face  the  dangers  of  the  battlefield,  was  a 
sorrow  like  that  which  many  thousands  besides  myself  had  to 
bear.  What  a  heavy  burden  is  that  borne  by  the  lonely 
widow  down  by  the  rock  !  But  the  knowledge  that  one  child 
is  already  in  the  whirlpool  of  trouble,  and  is  dragging 
another  after  him — that  has  been  given  to  me  alone.  How 
often  it  occurred  to  me  at  that  time  :  had  my  wife  but  lived 
to  see  the  uprising  of  our  Fatherland  !  It  was  better  thus. 
She  was  spared  the  sight  of  our  youngest  son  enrolled  in 
the  enemy's  ranks.  That  phrase  from  the  Bible,  which,  when 
thinking  of  her,  I  had  so  often  consoled  myself  with,  re- 
mained true  :  "  But  for  the  elect  those  days  shall  be  short- 
ened." Why  had  Rautenkron,  after  keeping  his  story  so 


WALDFRIED.  381 

long  to  himself,  now  divulged  it  ?  Had  the  secret  become 
too  burdensome  ?  And  why  did  he  cast  the  load  on  me  ? 
Enough,  I  had  to  overcome  it. 

The  presence  of  my  son-in-law  had  given  me  new  courage, 
and  I  agreed  with  Rothfuss,  who  said,  "  When  the  Colonel 
is  about,  every  one  is  more  erect  in  his  movements.  Yes, 
he  commands  even  when  he  says  nothing." 

I  had  never  seen  the  Colonel  thus.  Such  joviality  beamed 
from  his  face  that  a  glance  from  him  was  strengthening  and 
reassuring.  His  only  fear  was  that  a  premature  peace  might 
be  concluded  with  the  insolent  successor  of  the  tyrant,  be- 
fore all  was  decided  by  battle  ! 

Our  village  and  the  entire  neighborhood  were  in  commo- 
tion while  the  regiment  was  quartered  there.  They  even 
constructed  a  redoubt  on  Silvertop. 

My  son-in-law  confided  to  me  that  the  redoubt  was  per- 
haps unnecessary,  but  that  his  men  would  lose  their  good 
qualities  if  allowed  to  lounge  about  idly  ;  he  also  hoped  that 
the  news  of  their  doings  would  spread  across  the  Rhine. 

The  peasants  became  refractory,  arid  appointed  a  deputa- 
tion, and  among  them  was  their  ruler,  the  meadow  farmer. 
They  said  that  they  had  not  forgotten  how  dreadfully  the 
French  had  behaved  in  1796,  on  account  of  the  building  of 
a  fortification  in  the  neighborhood.  But  the  Colonel  an- 
nounced that  whoever  opposed  any  military  ordinance, 
would  be  brought  before  a  court-martial  and  shot  forthwith. 
From  that  moment  my  son-in-law  received  the  name  of 
"  Colonel  Forthwith."  Several  of  the  most  notable  farmers 
from  the  neighboring  valley,  earnest,  patriotic  men,  led  by 
the  burgomaster  of  Kalkenbach,  wanted  me  to  help  them  to 
an  interview  with  the  colonel.  They  complained  that  a 
young  lieutenant  wanted  to  destroy  the  bridges  over  the 
creek,  and  that  he  was  about  to  cast  burning  rosin  and  tar- 


382  WALDFRIED. 

barrels  into  the  stream,  without  reflecting  that  he  thereby 
ran  the  risk  of  setting  fire  to  the  whole  valley. 

The  Colonel  countermanded  this  at  once.     He  sent  small 

detachments  hither  and  thither  in  all   directions    to   build 

,  camp-fires  on  all  the  hills,  leaving  often  only  men  enough 

about  them  to  keep  up  the  fires,  which  were  visible  from 

across  the  Rhine. 

People  were  to  be  made  to  believe  that  a  large  army  was 
collected  here,  and  he  therefore  notified  all  the  towns  and 
villages  lying  far  beyond  our  valley,  of  the  fact  that  large 
numbers  of  soldiers  would  be  quartered  there.  On  the 
houses  they  would  chalk  the  number  of  men  and  of  horses 
that  were  to  be  provided  for.  To  judge  by  appearances,  it 
seemed  as  if  hundreds  of  thousands  were  at  hand. 

The  Colonel  asked  Rothfuss  if  he  knew  any  French  sym- 
pathizers. He  evidently  wished  that  the  French  should  get 
the  most  alarming  news  from  us.  Rothfuss  thought  that 
Funk  would  be  his  man ;  but  when  my  son-in-law  consulted 
me  about  Funk,  I  dissuaded  him  from  employing  such  an 
instrument.  Rothfuss  then  brought  us  the  news  that  a 
journeyman  baker  from  Alsace,  who  had  worked  for  Lerz, 
was  prowling  around  and  preparing  to  return  home. 

The  Colonel  got  Rothfuss  to  carry  the  news  to  this  jour- 
neyman, that  more  than  a  hundred  thousand  men  were  en- 
camped in  the  forest.  The  few  pieces  of  artillery  under  his 
command  were  constantly  moved  from  place  to  place,  so 
that  all  were  led  to  suppose  that  he  had  a  large  number  of 
guns. 

The  Colonel  had  orders,  in  case  the  enemy  should  advance 
on  us,  to  destroy  the  roads ;  we  supposed  that  Napoleon's 
plan  must  be  to  separate  North  and  South  Germany  by  a 
sudden  invasion.  This  was  no  small  matter :  we  were  the 
first  who  would  have  to  resist  the  shock  of  the  enemy's 


WALDFRIED.  383 

advance,  and,  so  far  as  I  could  learn,  I  felt  that  the  main 
forces  of  Germany  could  not  furnish  us  with  immediate  pro- 
tection. We  would  be  sacrificed  first,  and  afterwards  would 
be  helped  by  an  offensive  movement  from  the  Middle  Rhine 
region. 

Rautenkron  received,  provisionally,  the  uniform  of  a 
hospital  steward ;  for  the  Colonel  was  waiting  for  permission 
to  enroll  him.  I  was  present  when  he  asked  Rautenkron  : 

"  Do  you  speak  French  well  ?  " 

"  Perfectly." 

The  Colonel  whispered  something  to  him  ;  but  Rautenkron 
with  burning  cheeks,  cried  : 

"  I  can  never  do  that ;  never  !  " 

He  then  talked  confidentially  and  excitedly  to  the  Colonel ; 
I  believe  he  imparted  to  him  his  real. name. 

The  Colonel  then  ordered  him,  as  he  was  so  well  ac- 
quainted with  the  wooded  heights,  to  attend  to  the  further 
extension  of  the  camp-fires  on  their  tops. 

Conny  carefully  helped  in  attending  to  the  wants  of  the 
numerous  garrison.  The  soldiers  were  treated  in  the  best 
manner  by  the  villagers,  all  of  whom  were  anxious  to  do 
their  share  in  the  good  work. 

The  old  meadow  farmer  was  the  only  one  who  did  not 
show  himself.  He,  who  was  always  either  at  his  door  or 
window,  and  who  stopped  every  passer-by  to  have  a  chat 
which  should  drive  dull  care  away,  lay  in  his  little  back  room 
and  declared  that  he  was  ill. 

Carl's  mother,  on  the  contrary,  did  not  stay  in  her  house 
for  a  minute.  She  would  approach  one  group  of  soldiers 
after  another,  and  ask  each  man  if  he  had  a  mother  at  home. 
And  then  she  would  begin  to  talk  of  her  Carl,  how  he  was 
in  the  lancers,  and  how  they  could  hunt  through  every  regi- 
ment and  not  find  a  better  or  a  handsomer  fellow.  The  two 


334  WALDFRIED. 

sons,  who  were  working  as  carpenters,  had  estranged  them, 
selves  from  their  mother.  They  lived  down  in  the  valley, 
and  did  not  even  visit  her  on  Sundays.  They  boasted  in 
the  taverns  that  they  could  sing  French  songs. 

While  all  this  bustle  was  going  on,  I  was  constantly 
searching  for  Martella. 

Rothfuss  was  of  opinion  that  she  had  escaped  in  male 
attire  ;  for,  wherever  .  he  asked  after  Lerz,  the  baker, — he 
had  quickly  lost  all  traces  of  him,  however, — he  was  told  of 
a  young  man  that  had  been  in  his  company,  and  who  would 
never  enter  the  room  with  him. 

The  Colonel  had,  of  course,  no  time  to  sympathize  with 
ray  concern  about  Martella,  and  once  when  I  spoke  of  her 
he  said  : 

"  We  should  be  glad  to  be  thus  rid  of  her.  Such  a  creat- 
ure does  not,  after  all,  belong  in  our  family.  You  and 
mother  have  very  likely  been  wasting  all  your  kindness  on 
a-n  unworthy  person." 

I  did  not  agree  with  him.  Yes,  now  at  last  I  could  un- 
derstand many  things  in  Martella' s  disposition  that  had  here- 
tofore been  mysteries  to  me.  But  I  dared  not  talk  about 
them,  and  the  time  to  mourn  for  a  single  grief  had  not 
arrived. 


CHAPTER  II. 

ON  the  evening  of  the  last  day  of  July,  the  Colonel 
returned,  heated  from  the  effects  of  a  long  ride.  A 
sharpshooter  brought  in  a  despatch.  He  opened  it,  and 
forthwith  sent  his  adjutant  off;  then  he  asked  me  to  have 
a  good  bottle  of  wine  brought  up*  and  to  sit  down  beside 
him.  He  confided  to  me  that  his  detachment  was  getting 
ready  to  march,  that  he  would  move  off  by  daylight,  and  that 
he  would  leave  but  a  few  men  behind  to  attend  to  the  camp- 
fires.  I  became  much  moved  on  Bertha's  account,  and 
asked  the  Colonel  whether  he  had  any  wishes  which  he 
desired  to  have  attended  to. 

"  No,"  answered  he,  "  my  will  is  in  the  hands  of  Herr 
Offenheimer,  the  lawyer.  But  the  time  is  come  for  me  to 
speak  to  you,  dear  father,  of  myself.  Perhaps  we  shall 
never  be  together  again.  I  do  not  wish  to  leave  the  world 
and  not  be  really  understood  by  you." 

And  so,  leaning  back  in  the  large  chair,  he  began  in  his 
peculiarly  sonorous,  firm  voice :  "  I  do  not  like  to  speak  of 
myself.  I  have  learned  to  move  through  life  with  closed 
lips.  You  are  my  father,  and  were  my  comrade  in  a  bold 
and  hazardous  undertaking.  I  am  your  pupil,  although  you 
have  shown  great  discretion  in  keeping  everything  from  me 
which  might  interfere  with  the  profession  I  was  to  follow. 
Without  your  knowing  it,  I  developed  at  an  early  age.  When 
crossing  the  prison  yard  as  a  boy,  I  often  saw  the  brother  of 
Bertha's  mother  leaning  against  the  iron  bars;  The  picture 
of  this  refined  man,  with  his  delicate  features,  his  large  eye, 
his  white  brow,  and  light  beard,  haunted  me  in  my  dreams. 
25 


386  WALDFRIED. 

Do  criminals  look  like  that  ?  I  do  not  know  whether  my 
childish  heart  put  that  question,  but  I  believe  it  did.  I  stood 
on  the  balcony  as  they  carried  his  body  away.  I  saw  it 
placed  on  the  wagon.  At  that  moment  a  feeling  awoke  in 
me  that  there  are  other  and  higher  objects  in  this  world  than 
princes,  discipline,  parole,  epaulettes,  and  orders. 

"On  that  same  day,  I  heard,  for  the  first  time,  the  words, 
German  unity.  It  became  a  sort  of  secret  watchword  for 
me  ;  of  that  I  am  sure.  %My  father  spoke  of  the  noble  en- 
thusiast; the  post-adjutant  called  him  a  demagogue.  I 
looked  the  word  up  in  my  Greek  dictionary. 

"  I  entered  the  military  school.  I  learned  about  the  Greek 
and  Roman  heroes ;  I  heard  of  Socrates,  and  always  pict- 
ured him  to  myself  like  the  pale  man  behind  the  prison 
bars.  I  soon  became  reserved,  and  kept  my  thoughts  to 
myself;  outwardly  I  was  obedient  and  punctilious.  My 
father  became  commandant  of  the  capital ;  as  ensign,  I  was 
appointed  as  page  to  our  Prince.  I  was  present  at  the 
great  festivities  in  honor  of  the  sons  of  Louis  Philippe,  who 
were  visiting  our  Court.  I  heard  some  one  in  the  crowd 
say  they  were  only  princes  of  the  revolution.  I  studied 
modern  history  in  secret.  The  Opposition  in  our  Parlia- 
ment was  also  often  discussed.  I  heard  some  names  men- 
tioned with  derision  and  hate — yes,  with  scorn.  These  men 
were  pointed  out  to  me  in  the  street.  I  did  not  understand 
how  they  could  thus  walk  the  streets,  since  they  were  in 
opposition  to  our  Prince. 

''The  year  1848  came.  The  men  that  had  been  named 
with  scorn  became  ministers  of  state ;  they  were  entitled 
the  saviours  of  the  Fatherland. 

"On  that  6th  of  August,  on  which  we  did  homage  to  the 
regent  Archduke  John,  I  was  as  in  a  dream.  The  face  of 
that  man  behind  the  prison  bars  accompanied  me  every- 


IVALDFRIED. 


337 


where.  That  for  which  he  suffered  and  died — had  it  not 
come  ?  What  are  we  soldiers  ?  Are  we  nothing  but  the 
body-guard  of  the  Prince  ?  Against  whom  are  we  fighting  ? 

"Soldiering  does  not  allow  of  much  thinking.  In  the 
spring  of  1849  we  took  the  field.  The  first  order  I  gave 
was  directed  against  the  revolutionary  volunteers ;  the  first 
man  I  killed  looked  wonderfully  like  him  who  had  been  be- 
hind the  bars.  I  tried  to  forget  all  this,  and  succeeded. 
Then  I  met  you  and  Bertha. 

"What  has  happened  since,  you  know;  what  went  on 
within  me  I  will  not  bring  to  light. 

"  For  a  long  time  I  have  lived  quietly,  and  have  worked 
industriously.  I  desired,  above  all  things,  to  be  a  good 
soldier ;  to  be  well  grounded  in  my  profession. 

"  I  had  asked  for  leave  of  absence  to  fight  the  Circas- 
sians; I  wanted  to  see  real  war.  Leave  was  not  granted  me, 
but  I  was  appointed  as  teacher  in  the  school  for  non-com- 
missioned officers.  I  studied  many  things  there,  and  worked 
earnestly  with  my  friend,  Professor  Rolunt. 

"  In  1859  I  felt  our  alienation  most  bitterly.  We  were  not 
allowed  to  join  in  the  Schiller  festival.  What  would  our 
civilization  be  without  our  poets?  Whole  dynasties  of 
princes  can  be  wiped  away,  and  no  one  misses  them ;  but 
just  think  of  Schiller's  name  and  works  being  obliterated ! 
And  why  should  we  soldiers  not  join  in  the  festivities?  Has 
he  not  elevated  our  Fatherland  and  all  of  us  ?  But  he  who 
would  have  dared  to  give  utterance  to  such  thoughts  at  that 
time  would  have  been  cashiered. 

"  In  the  year  1866, 1  had  the  good  fortune  to  fight  against  a 
foreign  foe  in  Schleswig-Holstein,  and  while  at  the  front  was 
promoted  to  a  captaincy.  I  had  a  major  who  was,  now  that 
I  consider  it,  merely  stupid,  and  who  was,  therefore,  of  most 
revolting  military  orthodoxy.  Had  he  not  been  of  nobl/s 


388  WALDFRIED. 

birth,  he  would  scarcely  have  been  made  a  woodcutter.  As 
it  was,  he  barely  managed  to  get  himself  advanced  in  grade. 
As  long  as  I  was  a  lieutenant,  it  was  easier  to  bear;  but 
when  I  was  made  a  company  commander,  I  was  inwardly 
rebellious  and  had  to  remain  silent.  Yes,  you  political  gen- 
tlemen complain  of  tyranny,  but  we  suffer  far  more  from  it 
than  you  do.  Discipline  is  necessary,  but  to  bear  with  such 
blockheads  who  disgrace  you,  arid  can  do  nothing  but  curse 
and  swear — and  this  fellow  did  not  even  understand  his  duties 
— is  harder  than  you  think. 

"The  year  1866  came.  No  one,  not  even  you,  could  see 
what  was  going  on  within  me.  My  misery  began.  What 
are  we  ?  Were  we  to  have  a  different  commander  every 
day?  We  were — now  I  can  utter  the  word — praetorians, 
nothing  else ;  and  Prussia  is  quite  right  in  altering  our  mili- 
tary system.  We  must  know  who  our  chief  is.  "  Up  to  now, 
we  merely  fought  as  soldiers,  and  dared  not  ask  what  the 
end  would  be.  Everything  was  discipline ;  we  partook  of 
the  Lord's  Supper  on  account  of  discipline,  and  as  an 
example  for  the  troops. 

"  When  Annette's  husband  fell,  I  thought  him  lucky  ;  I  had 
a  wife  and  child,  and  yet  wished  for  death.  That  fratricidal 
war  was  fortunately  soon  over.  I  can  see  now  that  it  was 
necessary  for  our  preparation.  My  feelings  always  revolted 
at  the  recollection  of  it,  but  now  events  are  at  hand  which 
will  remove  those  memories.  I  shuddered  when  I  learned 
that  monuments  were  being  raised  to  those  who  had  fallen 
in  1866.  Now  I  can  see  that  they  have  died  twice  over  for 
their  Fatherland;  they  had  already  sacrificed  their  hearts 
while  living.  Our  profession  is  now  at  last  in  entire  sympa- 
thy with  the  nation's  wishes,  and  it  is  revolting  that  those 
who  call  themselves  'liberals'  refuse  to  acknowledge  the 
'  casus  belli.'" 


WALDFRIED.  '389 

"  Is  -the  Prince  aware  of  the  patriotic  ideas  which  you 
have  kept  to  yourself  for  so  long  a  time  ?  "  I  asked  as  the 
Colonel  paused. 

"  No  !  at  least  I  do  not  think  so  !  He  merely  knows  that 
I  sometimes  write  for  our  Military  Journal,  and  that  I  am  a 
good  soldier.  I  never  dreamt  that  I  would  be  appointed 
Minister  of  War.  And  on  that  night  I  knew  that  we  were 
simply  to  act  as  a  reserve,  and  to  be  a  sort  of  target  for  the 
enemy's  bullets.  You  must  surely  have  been  of  the  same 
opinion." 

I  could  not  boast  of  having  been  so  wise. 

•But  the  time  had  not  come  to  think  of  the  past.  The 
Colonel  gave  me  a  copy  of  his  will,  which  I  was  to  deposit 
with  the  recorder.  He  did  this  calmly,  without  showing  the 
slightest  emotion.  A  few  hours  later  we  went  to  bed. 


CHAPTER   III. 

THE  reveille  was  sounded.  The  soldiers  marched  off, 
and  nearly  the  whole  town,  young  and  old,  followed 
them  on  their  way.  When  I  saw  these  merry  men,  and 
thought  in  how  short  a  time  so  many  of  them  would  lie 
down  in  death,  I  became  oppressed  with  the  thought  that  I 
had  raised  my  voice  for  war.  But  this  feeling  soon  passed 
away.  We  are  acting  in  self-defence,  and  this  will  bring 
about  a  happy  ending,  for  we  shall  no  longer  have  to  live  in 
dread  of  the  insolence  and  presumption  of  our  neighbors. 

The  soldiers  sang  as  they  marched  along,  and  up  by  the 
newspaper-tree  sat  Carl's  mother,  looking  at  them  passing 
by.  Marie  stood  at  her  side,  but  the  old  woman  motioned 
her  away,  and  when  I  asked  her  to  return  home  with  us,  she 
said  : 

"  I  have  seen  the  thousands  and  thousands  of  mothers, 
who  bore  them  all  in  pain,  and  have  cared  for  and  raised 
them,  floating  in  the  air  over  their  heads.  O  my  Carl ! 
Have  you  heard  nothing  of  him  yet  ?  " 

We  found  it  difficult  to  get  her  back  to  the  village.  Marie 
walked  along  at  her  side,  and  said  : 

"  Do  you  know  what  I  should  like  to  be  ?  " 

"What?" 

"  Do  you  hear  the  hawk  that  is  circling  in  the  air  over  the 
hill-top  ?  Alas,  you  cannot  hear  him,  but  you  can  see  him. 
Like  him,  I  should  wish  to  fly,  and  I  would  fly  to  Charles 
and  back  again,  and  tell  you  everything." 

The  village  and  the  country  round  about  had  been  in  an 
uproar;  but  now  that  the  troops  had  left,  everything  was 


WALDFRIED.  29 1 

wonderfully  quiet.  Rothfuss  was  right ;  for  if  we  had  not 
seen  the  occasional  remains  of  a  camp-fire,  we  would  not 
have  known  that  the  soldiers  had  been  there.  The  old 
meadow  farmer,  who  had  been  pensioned  off  by  his  son,  and 
whom  the  departure  of  the  troops  had  aroused,  sat  at  his 
door,  and  seemed  to  enjoy  watching  the  little  pigs  that  were 
disporting  themselves  in  the  gutter. 

A  little  coach  stood  before  him,  in  which  lay  a  child  that 
he  had  to  feed  with  milk  ;  for  his  son  wanted  to  get  all  he 
could  from  his  father.  He  thought  of  nothing  but  the  in- 
crease of  his  property,  and  acted  meanly  towards  his  father. 
He  made  him  presents  of  the  cheapest  kind  of  tobacco,  so 
that  he  should  not  buy  an  expensive  sort ;  but  the  old  man 
saw  through  the  trick,  and  gave  the  tobacco  money  away,  so 
that  his  son  should  not  inherit  it. 

I  gladly  avoided  all  intercourse  with  these  people. 

As  I  approached  the  house,  the  old  man  beckoned  to  me  to 
come  to  him,  and,  like  a  child,  told  me  of  his  latest  pleasure. 

"  I  kept  them  locked  up  in  my  room  as  long  as  the  soldiers 
were  here.  Soldiers  have  a  great  liking  for  such  tender 
morsels.  I  used  to  be  so  myself." 

I  knew,  of  course,  that  he  was  talking  about  his  pigs,  and 
he  added  as  a  sort  of  consolation  : 

"Yes,  yes,  Mr.  Ex-Burgomaster" — he  gave  me  my  title — 
"yes,  yes,  you  are  also  retired  at  last,  and  squat  by  the 
stove.  Yes,  yes,  we  are  old  fellows  and  must  stick  at  home, 
while  the  young  ones  are  out  yonder,  fighting  the  enemy." 

The  old  man  kept  on  steadily  smoking  his  pipe,  and 
talked  of  war  times,  and  particularly  of  the  Russian  cam- 
paign, of  which  he  was  a  survivor.  But  on  this  day  I  could 
not  listen  to  him,  and  while  walking  home  I  began  thinking, 
am  I  really  fit  for  nothing  but  to  observe  from  afar  the  great 
deeds  that  are  now  being  wrought  ? 


392 


WALDFRJED. 


Just  as  I  was  turning  away  from  the  old  man,. his  son,  the 
meadow  farmer,  came  along  with  a  large  load  of  hay,  and 
said  in  a  mocking  manner,  "The  French  let  us  gather  our 
hay;  our  houses  will  burn  so  much  the  better  when  they 
come  to  set  them  on  fire."  Then  he  added  with  malicious 
pleasure,  "  Your  house  is  insured,  but  there  is  no  insurance 
on  your  woods."  Here  he  laughed  aloud.  When  troubles 
are  on  us,  a  man's  true  nature  shows  itself. 

After  telling  me  his  fears,  he  repeated  them  more  fully  to 
Rothfuss.  The  latter  shifted  his  pipe  from  one  side  of  his 
mouth  to  the  other,  and  asked,  "  What  would  you  give  not 
to  suffer  any  damage  ?  " 

"  How  ?  what  do  you  mean  ? 

"They  won't  hurt  my  house;  my  father  has  the  cross 
of  St.  Helena.  And  I  have  no  cash.  I  can  swear  that  I 
haven't  a  farthing  in  the  house." 

He  spoke  the  truth,  for  he  had  buried  his  money. 

"  You  need  no  money ;  it's  something  else.  Do  you 
know  the  story  of  the  dragon  of  Rockesberg  ?  " 

"  What  do  you  want  ?     What  do  you  mean  ?  " 

"  Why,  to  quiet  the  dragon,  they  had  to  sacrifice  a 
maiden." 

"  Those  are  old  tales.  Don't  try  to  make  a  fool  of  me. 
If  you  want  a  fool,  whittle  one  for  yourself." 

"  Stay  !  I  know  how  you  can  buy  yourself  free.  You 
needn't  deliver  your  daughter  Marie  to  the  dragon.  Will 
you  promise  to  give  her  to  Carl  in  case  everything  should 
turn  out  well  ?  " 

"  Ho  !  he'll  never  come  back." 

"  But  in  case  he  should  ?" 

"  Weil— do  you  think  that  will  be  of  any  use  ?  " 

"  Certainly.     Such  a  promise  will  save  you." 

"  You  ought  to  be  ashamed  of  yourself  for  being  so  super- 


WALDFRIED.  393 

stitious.  You  are  a  fool,"  said  the  meadow  farmer,  and  went 
off. 

The  exciting  events  of  the  last  few  days  had  so  entirely 
exhausted  me  that  I  could  not  keep  my  eyes  open  in  the 
day-time,  if  I  sat  down  ;  and  I  was  so  tired.  I  still  refused 
to  believe  that  I  was  growing  old.  But  I  was  strongly  re- 
minded of  it,  for  I  feared  to  die.  Formerly,  since  I  stood 
alone,  I  thought  death  an  easy  matter  ;  now  I  wanted  to  live 
long  enough  to  be  laid  in  the  soil  of  a  united  Fatherland. 

I  was  much  refreshed  by  the  arrival  of  Julius's  wife.  When 
I  awoke  from  my  afternoon  nap  and  saw  her  standing 
before  me,  it  seemed  as  if  it  were  my  wife  in  her  youth. 
She  had  a  most  charming  presence,  and  the  resignation  with 
which  she  bore  her  separation  from  husband  and  brother 
gave  great  impressiveness  to  her  manner.  Every  movement 
of  hers  had  a  quiet  grace.  She  lived  in  entire  harmony  with 
my  daughter-in-law  Conny  ;  and  these  two  children,  who  had 
now  become  mine,  petted  and  caressed  me  with  such  kind- 
ness and  consideration,  and  listened  so  attentively  to  all  I 
said,  that  I  could  speak  to  them  of  things  which  I  usually 
kept  to  myself.  Martha  was  an  adept  in  making  remarkably 
beautiful  bouquets  out  of  grasses  and  wild  flowers,  and  when 
I  entered  the  room  in  the  morning,  I  always  found  a  fresh 
nosegay  on  the  table.  She  was  such  a  pleasant  table  com- 
panion that  the  dishes  tasted  twice  as  good,  and  I  soon  re- 
gained my  strength. 

Marie  often  came  to  visit  me.  Martha  felt  very  kindly 
towards  the  girl ;  besides,  there  was  a  bond  of  union  between 
them,  for  each  had  her  greatest  treasure  in  the  field. 

Marie  had  hitherto  confided  in  no  one  in  the  village ;  for 
it  would  be  contrary  to  the  peasant's  standard  of  honor  to 
tell  any  one  how  she  loved,  and  what  her  father  made  her 
suffer.  Her  grandfather  strengthened  her  in  her  love,  and 


394  WALDFRIED. 

when  I  said  that  the  old  fellow  did  it  merely  to  hurt  his  son's 
feelings,  Martha  declared  I  was  wronging  him. 

Martha,  like  my  wife,  embellished  what  she  looked  upon. 
The  light  of  her  eyes  made  all  things  radiant  with  light,  and 
as  a  happy  young  wife  she  was  particularly  inclined  to  favor 
and  give  consolation  in  an  unhappy  love  affair.  Forgetting 
all  her  own  troubles,  she  gave  me  a  lively  account  of  the 
patience  and  energy  with  which  Marie  worked,  while  her 
father  would  go  about  the  house,  scolding  and  cursing,  be- 
cause he  now  was  forced  to  do  things  which  his  servants  had 
formerly  attended  to.  Yesterday,  while  she  was  engaged  in 
stacking  some  green  clover,  the  father  called  out  in  the 
direction  of  the  shed  behind  the  cattle-rack.  "To  whom 
are  you  talking  there  ?  " 

"  To  him." 

"  To  whom  ?  " 

Marie  shoved  the  clover  aside,  and  said,  "Father,  look 
at  me !  Can  you  not  see  that  it  is  written  here  that  Carl 
loves  me  ?  There  is  not  a  spot  in  my  face  that  he  has  not 
kissed.  See  here,  father,  look  at  this  half-ducat.  We 
chopped  one  in  two;  Charles  has  the  other  half.  There!" 

Then  she  piled  the  clover  up  again  so  that  her  father 
should  not  see  her.  He  kept  on  cursing  and  swearing. 
She  was  glad,  however,  that  she  had  spoken  out  at  last. 
Still,  Marie  was  greatly  embarrassed.  The  little  circle  in 
which  she  moved  was  her  world,  and  she  could  not  bear  be- 
ing talked  about  by  the  world,  for  preferring  the  son  of  the 
poorest  cottager  to  the  son  of  the  rich  miller. 

On  the  other  hand,  she  took  great  pleasure  in  hearing 
Carl  discussed.  He  had  always  said,  "  I  don't  like  it  that 
Marie  is  so  rich.  I  don't  need  much.  If  I  have  enough  to 
eat  and  drink  and!  my  clothes,  I  am  satisfied ;  and  if  I  have 
any  children,  they  shall  be  like  me  in  this  respect.  1  do  not 


WALDFRIED. 


395 


care  to  be  like  the  great  farmers,  and  have  money  in  the 
funds.  I  do  not  find  that  they  are  happier,  more  jovial,  and 
healthier  than  their  servants." 

The  schoolmaster  also  spoke  of  Carl :  "  He  was  my  best 
pupil,  and  learnt  the  most ;  and  when,  as  a  soldier,  he  re- 
ceived his  first  furlough,  he  came  to  visit  me  first  of  all.  He 
waited  before  the  door  until  the  school  was  dismissed,  when 
he  accompanied  me  home  and  thanked  me.  Yes,  he  will 
succeed  in  life." 

In  short,  Carl  has  the  qualities  which  we  wish  the  people 
to  possess  :  he  is  bright,  clever,  and  active  ;  is  not  dissatis- 
fied with  his  lot,  and  is  modest  and  frugal. 

Martha  did  not  merely  place  the  flowers  from  the  meadow 
before  me,  she  also  brought  blossoms  from  the  kind  hearts 
of  our  villagers  ;  for,  as  beautiful  flowers  grow  among  nettles, 
so  can  genuine  feeling  be  found  coupled  with  rudeness. 
We  had  to  return  to  our  quiet  life,  for,  in  spite  of  our  heavy 
thoughts  which  were  far  away,  the  present  demanded  our 
attention. 

In  irrigating  our  meadows,  we  were  frequently  forced 
to  protect  ourselves  against  the  tricks  of  the  meadow 
farmer.  The  traps  are  set  in  the  evening,  and  at  night  or 
early  in  the  morning  they  are  drawn  up  ;  for  the  meadows 
need  cool  water,  that  which  the  sun  has  warmed  being 
injurious. 

As  the  meadow  farmer  did  not  sleep  well,  he  used  to  go 
out  to  the  ditch  and  turn  our  water  into  his  meadows. 

Rothfuss  found  this  out,  and  I  caught  the  meadow  farmer 
stealing  the  water.  He  feared  the  French,  and  yet  he  tried 
to  rob  his  neighbors. 

Martha,  when  she  heard  of  this,  thought  that  his  love  for 
his  meadows  might  excuse  this  wickedness  ;  but  my  daughter- 
in-law  reproved  her  with  a  severity  which  I  had  never  observed 


396 


WALDFRIED. 


before.  She  looked  upon  such  trespassing  as  being  a  most 
serious  matter ;  for  the  growth  of  all  that  belongs  to  us  out 
of  doors  depends  on  public  confidence. 

Alas !  how  we  cared  for  such  little  matters,  while  such 
great  affairs  were  being  settled  yonder.  The  French  might 
come  upon  us  at  any  moment.  But  it  is  always  thus.  You 
stoop  to  pick  a  strawberry,  and  do  not  notice  the  mountain 
range.  Why,  as  I  was  walking  through  the  woods  I  was 
delighted  at  the  prospect  of  a  good  crop  of  huckleberries. 
This  is  of  importance  to  the  poor  people ;  for  the  produc- 
tions which  those  who  are  better  off  do  not  care  to  cultivate, 
furnish  food  for  the  poor. 

On  the  evening  of  the  ist  of  August,  I  was  again  on  top 
of  the  Hochspitz  Mountain,  where  Wolfgang  had  been  with 
me  the  last  time.  The  whole  valley  of  the  Rhine  was 
bathed  in  the  glow  of  the  setting  sun,  which  filled  the  air 
like  a  golden  stream,  and  beyond  lay  the  blue  Vosges 
Mountains. 

What  is  going  on  there  ?  Will  the  French  soon  be  here, 
killing  and  burning  as  they  go  ? 

To  protect  the  pine-tree  seeds  against  the  birds,  Wolfgang 
had  placed  brushwood  over  the  spot  on  which  he  had  sowed 
them.  This  had  already  become  dry,  and  the  leaves,  there- 
fore, covered  the  ground  from  which  the  young  plants  were 
starting. 

On  my  way  home  I  could  hear  the  murmur  of  the  brook 
below ;  and  everything  was  so  still,  that  I  could  even  heai 
the  noise  made  by  the  fountain  in  front  of  my  house. 
Sometimes  the  shrill  sound  of  the  saw-mill  would  be  carried 
up  to  me  by  the  breeze.  The  grain-fields  were  in  bloom  ;  a 
nourishing  haze  lay  upon  them ;  the  forest-trees  were 
silently  growing ;  the  sun  shone  so  clear  by  day ;  the  moon 
was  so  bright  by  night.  We  seemed  to  be  separated 


WALDFRIED. 

from  that  world  in  which  a  dreadful  slaughter  was  just  be- 
ginning. 

The  next  morning  I  looked  from  out  my  quiet  home, 
into  the  far  distance.  It  had  rained  during  the  night. 
Everything  was  cooled  off,  the  sun  shone  brightly,  and  the 
air  from  the  fields  was  most  refreshing.  We  had  brought  in 
our  hay  the  day  before,  and  the  thunder-storm  during  the 
night  had  nourished  the  meadows.  It  seemed  as  if  the 
myriads  of  refreshed  plants  joyfully  gave  token  of  new 
vigor.  I  said  to  myself:  Thus  may  it  be  with  our  country 
and  our  people  ;  perhaps,  while  you  slept,  a  dreadful  storm — 
and,  let  us  hope,  a  beneficent  one — may  have  passed  over  us. 

Just  then  Joseph  brought  the  news:  "Fighting  has  begun. 
We  have  been  beaten  at  Saarbriicken." 

"  None  of  our  people  are  there  :  only  Prussians  are 
there,"  cried  Rothfuss. 

Joseph  saw  how  angry  these  words  made  me,  and,  to  turn 
away  my  wrath,  he  begun  to  tell  about  Funk,  who  was  down 
in  the  tavern  boasting  of  his  knowledge  of  French,  and  say- 
ing that  he  would  get  along  with  the  Frenchmen.  He  also 
had  several  little  books  for  sale,  from  which  the  ordinary 
French  phrases  could  be  learnt. 

Funk  went  about  in  jack-boots,  carrying  on  a  heavy  busi- 
ness in  grain,  butter,  and  bacon  with  the  army.  Schweitzer- 
Schmalz  had  advanced  him  money  for  the  purpose.  He 
boasted  of  his  generosity  in  putting  the  poor  fellow  on  his 
feet,  but  at  the  same  time  had  wisely  bargained  for  the  lion's 
share  of  the  profits. 

An  hour  afterwards,  the  wife  of  the  councillor  sent  word 
that  the  news  of  our  defeat  was  false. 

That  afternoon  a  message  came  from  Hartriegel,  inform- 
ing us  that,  from  the  top  of  a  hill  in  his  neighborhood,  a 
great  movement  of  the  opposing  armies  could  be  seen.  I 


398  WALDFRIED. 

hurried  up  there  with  Joseph,  Martha,  and  Conny.  The 
engineer,  who  had  been  engaged  at  a  neighboring  stone- 
quarry  while  the  troops  had  been  stationed  about  us,  reap- 
peared and  accompanied  us. 

We  stood  on  the  top  of  the  tower  of  the  ruined  castle 
and  gazed  over  into  Alsace,  where  we  could  see  the  move 
ments  of  the  battle. 

It  was  going  on  near  Weissenburg,  the  region  which  was  so 
familiar  to  me.  Looking  on  thus  from  a  distance,  with  fear 
and  trembling  as  we  saw  the  sudden  flashes,  the  clouds  of 
smoke,  the  burning  villages,  and  hearing,  occasionally,  the 
sound  of  the  guns  which  the  echo  from  the  hills  brought  us 
— all  this  oppressed  me  so  much  that  Martha  persuaded  me 
to  take  some  wine.  It  went  hard  with  me  to  do  so,  for  I 
first  had  to  drown  the  thought  of  the  many  men  yonder  who 
might  be  restored  to  life  if  we  could  but  wet  their  lips. 

Martha  prayed;  I  could  only  think  of  the  new  epoch 
that  was  just  beginning.  Happiness  and  victory  must  be  the 
share  of  those  who  desire  their  own  good  and  that  of  others. 
One  great  step  was  already  gained,  for  the  war  had  been 
carried  into  the  enemy's  country. 

We  did  not  return  before  nightfall.  Joseph  drove  to 
town  to  bring  the  latest  news.  The  morrow  came,  so  calm 
and  clear.  What  has  been  the  result  ? 

At  noon  a  shot  was  fired  down  at  the  saw-mill ;  this  was 
the  signal  that  Joseph  was  to  give  in  case  we  had  triumphed. 
He  came  and  brought  the  news  of  the  glorious  victory  at 
Worth. 

"  We  have  beaten  the  French  on  their  own  ground,"  he 
cried;  "  it  was  their  own  ground,  but  it  must  be  ours  again. 
Our  boys  were  there,"  he  added,  after  a  pause.  "  Father  I 
sisters  !  let  us  be  prepared  for  everything." 

Our  resolve  was  a  timely  one. 


CHAPTER  IV. 

MARTHA,  who  had  hitherto  shown  such  self-posses- 
sion, was  now  seized  with  the  greatest  anxiety.  She 
changed  color  constantly.  She  tried  in  vain  to  control  her 
feelings,  but  at  last  her  anxiety  as  well  as  mine  became  so 
great  that  we  drove  to  the  city.  The  crops  were  being  al- 
ready gathered  from  such  fields  as  lay  facing  the  south; 
nearly  all  the  reapers  were  women. 

While  driving  up  the  hill  towards  the  court-house,  I  saw 
Edward  Levi,  the  iron  merchant,  turn  about  suddenly  as  he 
caught  sight  of  us  and  go  towards  his  house.  That  was  not 
the  way  he  usually  received  us ;  so  at  once  I  feared  that  there 
was  some  bad  news  awaiting  us,  and  that  he  did  not  wish  to 
be  the  first  one  to  tell  it  to  us. 

We  halted  before  the  court-house,  but  no  one  came  to  the 
windows  ;  no  one  came  to  meet  us.  We  went  upstairs  into 
the  hall.  The  councillor's  wife  stood  by  the  round  table  in 
the  centre.  She  kept  her  hand  on  the  table  for  a  moment ; 
then  advancing  towards  Martha,  and  taking  her  hand,  she  said, 
"  I  awaited  you  here ;  I  did  not  wish  to  cause  you  any  emo- 
tion on  the  stairs,  much  less  in  the  street.  Your  brother — 
dear  Martha — your  brother — died — an  heroic  death." 

She  said  this  with  a  firm  voice  ;  but  when  she  had  finished, 
she  sobbed  aloud  and  embraced  Martha.  The  latter  sank 
down  beside  her.  We  raised  her ;  her  faintness  was  of  short 
duration,  and  her  mother  whispered,  "  Don't  be  alarmed ! 
the  shock  will  not  harm  her." 

"  My  brother  ! "  cried   Martha,   "  I  shall  never  see  you 


WALD FRIED. 

more  ;  never  call  you  brother  again.  Pardon  me,  mother, 
I  distress  you  instead  of  helping  you.  Where  is  father  ?  " 

"  He  is  gone  to  the  battle-field  with  Baron  Arven.  He 
has  telegraphed  that  he  is  bringing  the  body  with  him.  Lud- 
wig,  Wolfgang,  and  that  sturdy  Ikwarte  are  of  the  greatest 
assistance  to  him." 

"  Where  is  my  sister  ?  " 

"  She  is  at  work  in  the  town-hall.  That  is  the  best,  the 
only  thing  to  do — to  care  for  others  while  you  are  bowed 
down  with  grief.  As  soon  as  you  are  restored,  we  will  go 
to  work  together.  Only  do  not  idly  mourn  now  !  I  have 
had  your  brother's  room  put  in  order ;  we  will  take  charge 
of  soine  wounded  man  and  nurse  him." 

Martha  looked  wonderingly  at  her  mother.  How  was 
such  self-control  possible  !  That  is  the  blessing  which  long 
and  careful  culture  brings,  while  it,  at  the  same  time, 
strengthens  the  moral  sense.  Her  mother  was  dressed  with 
care ;  she  looked  as  she  did  in  more  peaceful  days,  and  dis- 
played no  emotion,  deeply  as  her  heart  was  torn  by  the  loss 
of  her  dearly  beloved  son.  She  told  me  that  a  messenger 
had  come  after  bandages  and  to  get  help  for  the  battle-field, 
and  that  her  husband  had  sent  word  by  him  that  the  young 
lieutenant  had  been  the  first  officer  that  had  fallen.  He 
had  not  been  rash,  but  had  moved  forward  at  the  head  of 
his  men  with  steadfast  courage,  had  broken  the  ranks  of  the 
enemy,  and,  while  crying,  "  The  day  is  ours  !  the  day  is 
ours  ! "  he  had  fallen  with  a  bullet  in  his  heart. 

Martha  was  now  restored,  and  a  half  hour  after  our  arri- 
val we  were  on  our  way  to  the  town-hall.  Her  sister,  who 
was  engaged  in  cutting  out  garments,  came  towards  us,  gave 
Martha  her  hand,  and  repressed  the  rising  tears.  She  spoke 
softly  to  Martha :  she  evidently  begged  her  not  to  give  vent 


WALD FRIED.  40  r 

to  her  grief  before  those  who  were  present.  Martha  accom- 
panied her  quietly  to  the  table,  and  helped  to  spread  out 
the  linen. 

The  daughter  of  Councillor  Reckingen,  who  was  just 
budding  into  womanhood,  and  who  had  hitherto  been  a 
stubborn,  proud  girl,  lording  it  over  every  one,  sat  among 
the  workers  and  was  in 'entire  harmony  with  them,  while  her 
father  had  cast  aside  his  grief  and  joined  his  comrades  in  the 
field.  She  \vas  placed  specially  in  Christiane's  charge. 

The  children,  who  were  making  lint  in  the  basement,  were 
singing  the  song  of  "  The  Good  Comrade  " — in  the  hall  up- 
stairs everything  was  still.  Orders  were  given  quietly,  and 
the  women  and  maidens  passed  silently  to  and  fro.  It 
seemed  as  if  some  one  was  lying  dead  in  the  adjoining  room  ; 
but,  above  all  this  affliction  and  sorrow,  there  was  a  spirit 
which  had  never  before  shown  itself  among  those  present. 
All  class  distinctions  had  ceased,  for  all  were  united  in  their 
sympathy  for  their  fellow-men. 

Why  does  this  spirit  of  friendship,  this  unanimity,  appear 
only  in  times  of  trouble  and  sorrow ;  why  not  in  every-day 
life? 

I  felt  sure  that  this  union  of  hearts  would  remain  with  us 
and  beautify  our  lives,  and  this  thought  was  strengthened  by 
the  remark  of  the  lady  at  whose  side  I  sat,  who  said,  "  You 
see, — this  activity  is  the  salvation  of  many,  as  you  can  per- 
ceive in  your  grand-daughter  Christiane.  She  is  untiring, 
and  the  dissatisfied  air  her  face  used  to  wear  is  gone.  We 
are  now  all  united.  It  will  not  last;  but  hereafter  the 
thought  that  there  once  was  a  time  when  the  children  of  the 
poorer  and  of  the  upper  classes  did  not  ask  « Who  are  you, 
after  all  ?  '  will  greatly  benefit  us." 

I  stayed  in  the  city.  The  next  evening,  just  as  it  was 
growing  dark,  the  councillor  arrived  with  his  son's  body. 
26 


WALDFRIED. 

The  whole  town,  young  and  old,  was  collected  at  the  railway 
station.  The  children  carried  wreaths  and  flowers,  the  bells 
were  ringing,  and  thus  was  the  body  taken  from  the  station 
to  the  churchyard.  After  a  hymn  was  sung,  the  clergy- 
man delivered  his  address.  What  could  he  say  ?  He  ex- 
plained in  few  words  that  this  was  not  an  ordinary  funeral,  but 
that  we  were  now  parts  of  one  great  whole,  even  in  death. 

The  father,  mother,  and  sisters  cast  the  first  clods  of  earth 
on  the  young  hero's  coffin ;  the  grave  was  then  filled  in  and 
covered  with  flowers. 

We  had  buried  the  first  one  who  had  died  for  the  union 
and  independence  of  our  Fatherland.  I  was  staying  with 
the  family  which  had  thus  lost  its  only  son.  They  sat  at 
home  in  silence;  indeed,  what  could  be  said? 

The  parson  had  added  a  text  from  the  Bible,  and  had  made 
some  earnest  remarks  thereon  ;  yet  I  thought,  and  am  sure 
that  these  stricken  ones  thought  as  I  did,  that  all  political 
feeling  is  foreign  to  that  holy  book.  Patient  endurance  here, 
and  the  hope  of  better  things  beyond,  suit  a  nation  that  is 
kept  in  subjection,  but  not  one  that  is  gladly  battling  and 
sacrificing  itself  for  its  existence.  What  an  entirely  different 
comprehension  the  Greeks  had  of  exertion  carried  to  its  ut- 
most limit.  I  remembered  how,  while  in  prison,  the  speech 
of  Pericles,  delivered  at  the  funeral  rites  in  Athens,  had  il- 
lumined and  elevated  my  soul ;  and  I  could  almost  see  the 
words,  for  they  seemed  to  have  been  hewn  out  of  stone, 
like  a  finely  chiselled  piece  of  sculpture.  I  found  the  book 
in  the  house,  and  read  the  address  to  the  parents  and 
children.  I  had  to  stop  frequently,  for  sometimes  the  father 
and  sometimes  the  mother  would  exclaim  :  "  That  is  intended 
for  us,  for  to-day." 

"  No  enemy  has  ever  seen  our  entire  forces,"  says  Pericles, 
and  so  say  we. 


WALDFRIED.  403 

"  Bold,  daring,  and  calm  consideration  of  what  we  under- 
take, are  united  in  us.  He  among  us  who  does  not  concern 
himself  about  matters  of  state,  is  not  regarded  as  a  peaceable, 
but  as  a  useless,  man."  Pericles  shows  that  he  possesses  the 
true  religion  when  he  cries :  "  You  must  constantly  keep 
before  your  eyes  the  powers  of  the  state,  and  must  love, 
them.  Seek  for  happiness  in  liberty,  and  for  liberty  in  your 
own  courage." 


CHAPTER    V. 

*"    A     PRUSSIAN  doesn't  let  go  his  grip  from  anything  he 

JL\.  holds,"  said  Ikwarte  to  the  councillor,  when  the  latter 
called  to  him  not  to  let  a  badly  wounded  man,  who  was  be- 
ing carefully  carried  by,  drop.  This  was,  in  a  certain  sense, 
a  motto  for  us  all. 

Prussia  has  the  Frenchman  in  her  grip,  and  will  not  let 
him  go ;  and  our  troops  have  gone  bravely  on.  The  blood 
of  the  South  and  North  German  has  been  shed  together. 
Grief  for  the  individual  was  assuaged  by  the  thought  of  the 
result  which  would  be  achieved. 

The  union  of  the  German  people  is  now  indissoluble. 

The  councillor  returned  to  the  army. 

I  was  greatly  grieved  that  I  could  not  also  lend  a  hand, 
and  that  I  was  forced  to  return  home,  there  to  watch  and 
wait.  But  the  councillor  assured  me,  and  I  dare  say  he  was 
right,  that  I  would  be  unable  to  stand  the  sights  of  the 
battle-field.  On  the  first  day,  he  himself,  even  before  he 
knew  of  his  son's  fate,  had  become  so  crushed  and  dazed 
that  he  could  hardly  keep  his  feet.  Now  he  no  longer 
thought  of  the.  misery  itself,  but  solely  of  the  means  of 
remedying  it. 

Rontheim  related,  to  our  momentary  amusement,  how  the 
vicar  had  lost  the  trunk  containing  his  robes  of  office,  and  how 
he  therefore  had  to  perform  his  duties  without  his  distinctive 
dress :  a  circumstance  which  worked  no  harm,  as  he  was  of 
great  service  at  any  rate.  Martha  took  a  quantity  of  goods 
along,  which  she  wanted  either  to  finish  up  at  home,  or  to 


WALDFRIED.  40  - 

use  as  a  means  of  instructing  the  children  of  our  village. 
We  drove  home.  It  seemed  like  a  dream  to  me  that  the 
saw-mill  was  running,  that  wagons  loaded  with  wood  met  us, 
and  that  people  were  at  work  in  the  fields.  Everything  goes 
its  ga^c,  and  yonder  rages  the  battle. 

At  the  newspaper-tree  we  met  Carl's  mother  and  Marie, 
and  she  called  out  to  me,  "  Do  you  see  the  flock  of  hungry 
crows !  They  are  flying  beyond  the  Rhine,  to  where  the 
boys  who  used  to  sing  are  lying  dead — and  each  of  them  had 
a  mother." 
1  "  Your  Carl  has  written  that  he  is  safe  and  sound." 

"  Yes,  yes,  until  to-morrow.     Come  !     We'll  go  home." 

The  two  boundary  posts  were  united  by  means  of  a  black, 
red,  and  gold  flag,  which  had  been  wound  around  them. 
Joseph,  whom  we  met  there,  had  done  it.  He  was  greatly 
shocked- at  the  sight  of  Martha  in  mourning,  although  he  had 
already  heard  that  her  brother  had  fallen ;  but  all  life  was 
now  so  uncertain,  that  he  feared  she  might  also  be  mourning 
for  Julius.  She  gave  him  a  letter  which  her  father  had 
brought  from  Julius.  It  was  full  of  sadness,  but  at  the  same 
time  he  wrote  with  pride  of  his  dead  brother-in-law,  and  ex- 
pressed himself  as  being  convinced  that  he  would  return 
from  the  war  uninjured. 

The  days  passed  by  quietly.  The  school-master  reported 
that  the  children  had  become  so  inattentive  'that  he  did  not 
know  what  to  do,  for  they  would  not  study  their  lessons,  and 
talked  of  nothing  but  the  war.  He  determined  to  let  the 
children  read  the  newspapers  aloud,  and  copy  the  reports 
from  the  seat  of  war. 

The  game-keeper  who  reported  to  Joseph  told  us  tr.at  fewer 
crimes  were  being  committed  than  usual,  although  the  tav- 
erns were  constantly  full.  There  was  a  good  deal  of  tres- 
passing on  the  woods ;  but  that  was  none  of  his  business. 


406  WALDFRIED. 

Short  and  precise  letters  came  from  Carl,  and  he  never 
forgot  to  mention  that  he  had  enough  to  eat  and  drink,  foi 
he  knew  that  such  news  would  gladden  his  mother's  heart. 

Martha  reported  that  Marie  and  Carl's  mother  had 
stopped  going  to  the  newspaper-tree.  Marie  had  learned,  to 
her  astonishment,  that  you  could  buy  your  own  newspapers, 
and  so  she  procured  one  daily.  Living  in  constant  dread  of 
her  father,  she  subscribed  for  it  in  the  name  of  the  school- 
master, and  receiving  it  every  evening,  she  undertook  the 
troublesome  task  of  reading  it  aloud  to  the  old  woman  at 
night.  The  worst  part  of  it  was  that  the  latter  insisted  on 
having  the  lists  of  the  dead  and  wounded  read  to  her.  She 
did  not  know  what  she  should  do  in  case  the  awful  news 
were  to  come. 

I  live  among  peasants,  and  see  a  great  deal  of  rudeness,  as 
well  as  good  feeling ;  but  the  greatest  affection  I  ever  saw 
lay  in  the  conduct  of  Marie  towards  Carl's  mother. 

The  wagons  of  our  district  were  ordered  to  Alsace,  and 
my  wagon  and  team  of  bays  had  to  go  along.  I  wanted  to 
employ  one  of  the  workmen  engaged  in  regulating  the  course 
of  the  river  to  drive  them,  but  Rothfuss  insisted  on  taking 
charge  of  the  team  himself,  so  I  had  to  let  him  go.  He  was 
in  great  spirits,  and  declared  that  he  would  return  with  the 
wagon  wreathed  in  flowers,  and  that  Martella  and  Ernst 
would  sit  in  it. 

Our  house  became  still  more  quiet  now,  and  when  our 
horses  were  gone,  we  felt  as  if  we  were  cut  off  from  the 
world. 

The  nights  were  so  calm  and  peaceful,  the  moon  shone 
so  clear ;  no  leaf  stirred,  and  even  the  brook  ran  dreamily 
along.  And  yet,  at  this  time,  there  were  thousands  attempt- 
ing to  kill  each  other. 

Martha  was  often  busy  looking  at  the  pages  of  an  album 


WALDFRIED. 


407 


through  a  magnifying  glass.  This  book  contained  a  collec- 
tion of  mosses  and  ferns,  which  Julius  had  arranged  for  her. 
Underneath  each  specimen  was  noted  the  place  from  which 
it  came  and  when  it  had  been  gathered;  and  there  were 
always  added  the  words  "  for  Martha." 

We  were  in  almost  daily  receipt  of  postal  cards  from 
Julius,  and  with  the  same  minuteness  which  he  had  shown  in 
the  album,  he  gave  us  the  day,  hour,  and  place  of  writing. 
Sometimes  a  sealed  letter  from  him  would  also  reach  us. 
Martha  let  me  read  them,  and  only  once  did  she  blushingly 
cover  a  postscript  with  her  hand.  Conny  called  my  atten- 
tion to  Martha ;  what  a  touching  and  hallowed  vision  she 
seemed  to  be,  and  how  humbly  and  modestly  she  bore  her 
life's  great  secret ! 

While  I  was  examining  the  mosses,  Martha  told  me,  with 
radiant  face  and  sparkling  eyes,  how  she  had  become 
acquainted  with  Julius.  She  had  danced  with  him  at  a 
country  ball,  but  they  had  seen  no  more  of  each  other. 

On  the  next  morning,  as  she  and  her  sister  were  walking 
in  the  "Rockenthal"  and  were  passing  through  the  shrub- 
bery, they  suddenly  came  to  a  large  pine-tree  under  which  a 
hunter  was  sleeping.  His  dog  sat  at  his  side,  and  they 
motioned  to  him  to  remain  quiet,  while  they  both  stood 
there  examining  the  man's  youthful,  browned  features  and 
white  brow.  Martha  summoned  up  her  courage,  seized  his 
hat  and  took  out  the  feathers,  replacing  them  with  a  bunch 
of  freshly  gathered  flowers.  After  this  bold  deed,  the  sisters 
fled  to  the  shrubbery ;  but  the  dog  barked,  and  the  hunter 
awoke.  He  stared  about  him,  seized  his  gun  and  hat, 
apparently  puzzled  to  find  the  alteration  that  had  been 
made,  and  uttered  an  energetic  oath.  He  just  caught  sight 
of  the  two  sisters  in  their  light-blue  summer  dresses,  as  they 
disappeared  in  the  shrubbery.  He  called  after  them,  and 


408  WALDFR1ED. 

they  ran,  until  Martha  stumbled  over  the  root  of  a  tree  and 
fell.  "Your  voice  is  too  good  to  swear  with,"  said  the  sister 
who  had  remained  standing,  and  then  the  young  hunter 
pulled  off  his  hat,  and  looked  confused.  Recovering  him- 
self immediately,  he  said,  "  It  was  not  you,  but  your  sister, 
who  played  the  robber.  She  has  the  feathers  yet.  I — I 
thank  you  for  the  exchange."  Then,  as  Martha  handed 
him  the  feathers,  and  as  he  held  his  hat  out  towards  her,  he 
succeeded  in  touching  her  hand  with  his  lips.  He  escorted 
the  two  girls  through  the  woods,  and  starting  with  the  joke 
of  having  caught  them  trespassing,  they  ended  by  having  a 
merry  talk.  He  soon  begged  Martha  to  sing,  for  he  said 
that  he  could  see  that  she,  like  him,  was  in  the  humor  of 
singing.  So  these  two  began  to  sing  their  favorite  songs, 
which,  strangely  enough,  were  the  same ;  and  when  they 
reached  the  road,  both  of  the  sisters  stretched  out  their 
hands  to  Julius.  He  held  Martha's  hand  in  his  the  longest, 
and  from  that  moment  their  fate  was  fixed,  and  became 
more  blissful  every  day. 

He  arranged  the  album  while  they  were  engaged.  It  was 
filled  with  the  fondest  memories,  and  even  I  learned  much 
from  it  that  was  new  to  me.  Each  tree  showed  me  new 
forms  of  existence,  and  in  a  little  while  I  was  able  to  forget, 
while  contemplating  these  minute  products  of  nature,  the 
great  commotion  that  was  raging  so  near  us.  A  bird  is 
perched  on  the  telegraph  wire,  while  beneath  it  the  most 
stirring  news  is  passing  silently  and  invisibly.  I  often  re- 
garded the  wires  that  were  stretched  in  front  of  my  woods. 
Who  knows  the  news  that  is  flashing  through  them  ?  We 
were  soon  to  hear  it. 


CHAPTER    VI. 

"  T  T  thunders,  booms,  tumbles,  and  crashes ;   the  moun- 

JL  tains  are  falling,  the  world  is  coming  to  an  end ! " — 
thus  did  Carl's  mother  cry  out  in  the  village  street.  She 
refused  to  be  comforted,  and  when  she  saw  Martha  in  mourn- 
ing, she  began  to  shriek  out :  "  Black  !  black  !  We  shall  all 
be  charred  to  death  ! " 

We  succeeded  at  last  in  calming  her,  and  then  led  her 
home,  while  round  about  us  a  noise  like  thunder  seemed  to 
come  from  the  hills ;  although  not  a  cloud  was  visible  in  the 
sky. 

We  knew  that  Strasburg  was  being  bombarded.  The  fact 
was,  that  the  sound  of  the  cannonade  struck  against  the  rock 
behind  the  spinner's  cottage,  and  rolled  thence  along  the  little 
valleys  between  the  hills. 

This  lone  woman,  who  could  scarcely  hear  a  man's  voice, 
could  distinctly  perceive  the  roar  of  the  artillery  which 
shook  her  cottage. 

"  My  boy  is  there,  my  good,  my  brave  son,"  she  cried, 
when  she  was  told  that  Strasburg  was  being  bombarded. 
Then  she  broke  out  into  a  sort  of  chant :  "  In  Strasburg  is 
the  minster ;  I  was  in  service  for  five  years  in  the  Blauwol- 
ken  Street ;  in  Strasburg,  in  Strasburg,  in  Strasburg," — it 
sounded  like  a  doleful  song.  We  wanted  to  induce  her  to 
come  to  us ;  even  Marie  wanted  to  take  charge  of  her ;  but 
she  caught  hold  of  her  table,  crying,  "No,  no  !  I  shall  not 
go  from  here  until  I  am  carried  out." 

That  evening  Joseph  came  for  me,  saying,  that  from  the 
top  of  the  stone-wall,  the  shells  could  be  seen  Hying  through 


4io 


WALDFRIED. 


the  air.  We  accompanied  him  to  the  spot,  and  could  see 
the  shells  rising,  then  falling  and  disappearing  in  little  clonds 
of  smoke.  The  stone-cutter,  who  had  seen  service  as  a 
soldier,  pointed  out  to  us  the  shells  that  exploded  harmlessly 
in  the  air,  and  those  which  spread  destruction  as  they  burst. 

How  is  it  with  the  people  over  there  on  whom  this  rain  of 
fire  is  falling  ?  What  are  they  doing  at  home  ?  What  do  they 
say,  and  think,  and  what  consolation  and  support  do  they 
bring  each  other?  I  imagined  myself  among  them,  living 
with  them.  And  my  niece  was  there,  too.  She  had 
thought  to  find  protection  there,  and  now  she  was  in  the 
greatest  danger.  And  how  must  my  sister,  yonder  in  the 
forest  of  Hagenau,  be  wringing  her  hands  at  these  sounds 
and  sights !  And  we  are  sending  death  and  destruction 
among  those  to  whom  we  want  to  cry,  "  Come  to  us,  stay 
with  us."  The  language  the  cannon  speak  is  a  dreadful  one. 

We  had  to  return  home  at  last.  I  was  so  confused  and 
shocked,  that  Joseph  had  to  lead  me.  I  could  hear  the  guns 
as  I  lay  in  bed ;  but  after  a  while  sleep  comes  to  you  in 
spite  of  noise  and  sorrow. 

Marie  told  me  the  next  morning  that  the  spinner  had 
counted  the  shots  by  the  hour  during  the  night.  When  she  had 
reached  one  hundred,  beyond  which  she  could  not  count,  she 
buried  her  head  in  the  pillow,  crying,  "  I  can  count  no.  fur- 
ther; I  cannot ;  it  is  enough  !  "  and  had  then  fallen  asleep. 
Marie  asked  our  aid,  for  the  spinner  had  said  that,  when 
daylight  came,  she  would  stand  it  no  longer ;  she  would  go 
to  her  son. 

However,  when  the  next  day  came  she  had  forgotten  her 
intention.  She  sat  in  her  room,  spinning,  and  whenever  she 
heard  the  sound  of  a  gun,  would  merely  open  her  mouth, 
but  say  nothing.  Not  a  word  passed  her  lips  for  days. 

Joseph  wanted  to  visit  the  besiegers,  but  I  asked  him  to 


WALDFRIED. 

remain  with  us,  as  I  wanted  to  have  one  of  my  men  about 
the  house. 

Every  evening  the  young  folks  from  the  village  would  climb 
to  the  top  of  the  hill  behind  the  little  stone  wall,  and,  with  the 
light-heartedness  of  youth,  would  enjoy  themselves  in  spite 
of  the  destruction  that  was  going  on  before  their  very  eyes. 

My  sister  and  her  daughter  surprised  us.  The  former  had 
visited  the  camp  ;  had  luckily  found  Julius,  and  through 
him  had  obtained  permission  for  her  daughter  to  leave  the 
fortress.  She  had  left  all  her  property  at  the  mercy  of  the 
shells  and  of  the  plundering  soldiers ;  for  the  opinion  of  the 
citizens  was,  that  the  German  soldiers  would  sack  the 
city.  As  Germans,  they  had  been  regarded  with  aversion 
by  their  neighbors  and  acquaintances.  She  left  us  soon 
again,  so  as  to  be  with  her  husband  ;  but  her  daughter,  who 
was  greatly  overcome,  remained  with  us. 

Martha  and  Conny  nursed  the  young  wife  carefully ;  and 
Martha  spoke  French  to  her,  so  as  to  please  her. 

A  large  detachment  of  captured  and  wounded  French  and 
Algerians  came  through  our  valley.  The  people  from  all  the 
villages  flocked  to  the  high-road  to  see  them  pass.  I  feared 
that  the  people  would  show  their  irritation,  and  jeer  these 
unfortunates  :  but,  as  if  by  a  tacit  agreement,  every  one 
kept  aloof,  and  only  words  of  sympathy  were  heard.  It  was 
only  when  the  fantastic,  and  sometimes  terrible-looking 
Africans  appeared,  that  the  dismay  of  the  people  showed  it- 
self, as  they  called  out,  "  There  they  are,  the  men  that  were 
going  to  burn  our  towns  and  forests,  the  cannibals  !  " 

Rothfuss,  with  my  team  of  bays,  was  also  in  the  proces- 
sion. He  halted  a  moment  at  the  saw-mill  near  the  bridge, 
and  gave  a  merry  account  of  the  kind  of  load  he  was  carry- 
ing. It  consisted  of  wounded  Turcos,  and  he  laid  great 
stress  on  the  fact  that  the  French  would  have  nothing  in 


412  WALD  FRIED. 

common  with  these  wicked  apes.    He  had  to  keep  on  his 
way. 

Great  excitement  was  caused  in  the  village  when  it  was 
reported  that  Carl  had  returned.  We  all  accompanied  his 
mother  and  Marie  down  the  valley,  where  he  had  halted  with 
a  squad  of  prisoners.  Marie  embraced  him  before  us  all, 
and  the  prisoners  smiled,  and  imitated  the  sound  of  their 
smacking  lips. 

Carl  had  much  to  tell  me,  and  could  not  find  words  to  say 
all  he  wanted  to,  particularly  in  praise  of  the  Pomeranian 
lancers.  He  said  they  were  the  right  sort  of  fellows — as 
quiet  and  strong  as  the  pine-trees ;  and  it  was  strange  to 
see,  when  they  first  saw  the  Rhine,  about  which  so  much  had 
been  sung  and  said,  how,  in  their  enthusiasm,  they  wanted 
to  ride  directly  into  the  stream. 

His  mother  and  sweetheart  accompanied  him  for  some 
distance  on  the  road,  and  when  they  turned  to  come  back 
the  old  woman  said,  "  Now  I  am  satisfied ;  now  no  one  shall 
hear  me  complain  ;  I  am  sure  that  nothing  will  happen  to 
him  in  this  war." 

We  harvested  our  crops  ;  we  placed  the  green  bough  on  the 
top  of  the  new  mill  down  in  the  valley ;  we  began  to  cut 
wood  in  the  forest ;  yet  still  the  thunder  of  the  bombard- 
ment of  Strasburg  continued. 

The  old  meadow  farmer  lay  at  home  very  ill,  and  often 
said,  •"  I  shall  be  buried  like  a  soldier ;  they  will  fire  over 
my  grave." 

We  buried  the  old  fellow  on  the  morning  of  September 
2d.  He  had  given  orders  that  his  St.  Helena  medal  should 
be  buried  with  him  ;  but  his  son  did  not  see  fit  to  let  this  be 
done.  He  looked  upon  this  so-called  mark  of  distinction  as 
a  means  of  preservation,  in  case  the  French  should  come 
after  all. 


I'/ALDFRIED. 


413 


While  we  were  standing  at  the  open  grave,  Joseph  came 
riding  up  the  hill,  his  horse  very  much  blown,  and  cried, 
"  Napoleon  is  a  prisoner  ! "  We  all  hurried  to  the  road  where 
Joseph,  still  on  horseback,  read  the  extra  aloud.  It  was 
the  account  of  the  capture  of  Napoleon  at  Sedan. 

What  strange  coincidences  occur  in  life  !  We  had  just 
buried  the  last  man  in  our  village  who  wore  on  his  breast  the 
badge  of  the  infamy  of  our  alliance  with  Napoleon  ;  and  now 
we  had  his  successor  and  heir  a  prisoner  in  our  hands. 

As  if  by  a  preconcerted  signal,  the  young  people  of  the 
village  struck  up,  "  Die  Wacht  am  Rhein." 

Without  awaiting  the  parson's  permission — very  likely  he 
wouldn't  have  given  it— the  church-bells  were  rung,  and  the 
German  flag  was  thrown  to  the  breeze  from  the  top  of  the 
church  spire.  We  returned  home  as  if  in  a  dream. 

•  When   my  niece,  the  Alsacienne,   heard   the   news,  she 
shook  her  head,  and  refused  to  be  convinced  of  its  truth. 

She  had  been  always  accustomed  to  hear  the  lying  de- 
spatches of  her  countrymen. 

After  the  Sedan  campaign,  we  all  thought  that  the  war 
was  ended  ;  but  the  French  people,  in  their  overweening  con- 
fidence, still  insisted  on  retaining  the  first  place  among  na- 
tions, and  resented  the  idea  of  their  giving  up  the  German 
provinces,  of  which  in  former  days  they  had  robbed  us. 

The  war  went  on  without  ceasing. 


CHAPTER  VII. 

WE  cannot  be  astonished  anew  every  day  at  the  phe- 
nomena of  existence  :  how  the  sun  rises,  how  the 
plants  grow  and  bloom.  We  must  accustom  ourselves  to 
the  homely  changes  that  are  being  wrought ;  to  life  and  death 
among  us,  to  love  and  hate,  to  union  and  discord. 

We  ended  by  becoming  accustomed  to  the  fact  that  the 
war  was  raging,  and  as  surely  as  the  sun  rose  we  expected 
news  of  another  victory  ;  for  that  we  should  ever  be  beaten 
seemed,  to  judge  from  what  had  happened,  impossible. 

The  daily  question  was,  "  Has  Strasburg  surrendered 
yet  ?  " 

On  the  morning  of  the  2Qth  of  September,  I  attended  the 
weekly  market  to  sell  my  grain.  It  was  the  crop  of  1870. 

Everything  went  on  as  usual ;  there  wa's  the  same  chaffer- 
ing, bargaining,  and  cheating,  and  occasionally  the  war  was 
discussed. 

Suddenly  I  heard  a  noise  of  shouting  and  rejoicing,  and 
saw  flags  hung  out  of  the  windows.  "Strasburg  has  fall- 
en," was  the  cry. 

People  called  to  each  other,  "  Strasburg  has  fallen  at 
last,"  as  if  some  one  who  had  been  long  lost  had  returned  at 
last. 

Joseph  brought  the  Alsacienne  to  town.  We^made  up  a 
store  of  food  and  clothing  for  her,  and  accompanied  by 
Christiane,  who  had  been  despatched  to  the  afflicted' city  by 
the  Aid  Society,  she  returned  to  Alsace.  Every  one  went 
over  to  Strasburg,  partly  from  curiosity,  and  partly  out  of  pity. 
I  refused  to  go. 


WALDFRIJZD. 

Then  came  letters  from  Alsace  for  Martha  and  me. 

I  did  not  know  the  handwriting  of  the  one  for  me.  It 
turned  out  to  be  from  Baron  Arven.  He  wrote  that  he  had 
had  frequent  conferences  with  those  high  in  office  on  the 
importance  of  quieting  the  minds  of  the  Alsatians,  and  of 
coming  to  an  understanding  with  them.  Unfortunately  they 
had  been  forced  to  take  sharp  measures  against  those  who 
were  un tractable  and  traitorous,  and  now  they  desired  to 
take  such  measures  as  would  stop  any  further  sacrifices. 
There  were  other  nurses  required  besides  those  who  attended 
the  wounded,  and  he  believed  I  would  suit  his  purpose. 

The  following  sentence  in  his  letter  pierced  my  heart  like 
a  dagger:  "Your  family  ties  make  it  your  duty  to  aid  the 
lost  son  to  return  to  his  father's  house." 

How  ?  Has  Ernst  been  found,  and  is  the  preceding  por- 
tion of  the  letter  simply  written  to  prepare  me  for  the 
shock  ? 

I  read  on,  and  found  I  was  mistaken.  A  troubled  mind 
interprets  everything  in  its  interest.  Arven  simply  meant  that 
I  should  aid  in  the  work  of  attaching  Alsace  to  Germany ; 
for  he  informed  me  that  men  of  all  classes,  who  were  known 
to  have  friends  and  relatives  in  Alsace,  had  been  requested 
to  visit  those  sections  of  the  country  with  which  they  were 
acquainted,  there  to  work  in  the  interest  of  union.  Those 
who  had  been  in  opposition  to  the  government  were  espec- 
ially wanted,  for  the  reason  that  their  conduct  would  be  re- 
garded as  being  founded  on  a  pure  love  for  the  Fatherland. 

He  asked  me  to  visit  the  villages  in  the  forest  of  Hag- 
enau,  with  which  I  was  acquainted  through  my  relations,  and 
see  what  I  could  do  towards  furthering  the  good  work. 

I  had  to  laugh  when  he  added  :  "Your  presence  and  your 
white  hair  will  do  much,  I  think,  to  create  confidence  in 
you." 


41 6  17ALDFRTED. 

The  Baron  was  in  the  confidence  of  the  government.  It 
seemed,  therefore,  to  be  decided  that  we  should  take  back 
the  provinces  of  which  we  had  been  robbed.  Yes,  I  am 
ready  to  do  what  I  can.  It  is  true,  I  doubted  my  capacity ; 
but  a  love  of  the  cause  and  encouraging  hopefulness 
strengthened  me.  Arven's  letter  gave  me  courage.  He  had 
never  praised  me  to  my  face,  but  he  displayed  the  best  feel- 
ing in  his  letter. 

"I  am  going  to  Alsace,"  said  I. to  Martha. 

"  Oh,  that  is  splendid,  and  you  can  take  me  along." 

She  showed  me  a  letter  from  Julius,  in  which  he  asked  her 
to  visit  him  in  Strasburg  for  a  short  time,  until  he  should 
march  off  again. 

He  wrote  :  "  We  will  meet  among  saddening  ruins,  but 
we  shall  remain  erect,  and  while  we  help  rebuild  the  great 
fabric  of  the  state,  shall  also  strengthen  our  own  life-fabric." 

We  journeyed  to  Strasburg.  Julius  met  us  in  Kehl. 
What  a  meeting  between  the  young  couple  ! 

"  I  have  also  seen  Martella,"  Julius  said.  "  I  wanted  her 
to  enter  a  hospital  as  nurse,  but  she  has  retained  her  old  dis- 
likes, and  refuses  to  have  anything  to  do  with  the  sick.  She 
was  engaged  with  a  number  of  other  women  in  distributing 
supplies,  but  I  don't  know  whether  she  is  near  here  now.  I 
have  been  told  that  she  lias  gone  to  Lorraine  with  another 
detachment  of  the  supply  commission.  She  parted  from 
Lcrz,  the  baker,  after  a  few  days.  The  Prince's  letter  of 
pardon  has  passed  her  everywhere,  and  she  is  now  with 
Ikwarte  and  Wolfgang,  who  will  protect  her." 

I  shall  not  speak  of  the  effect  the  appearance  of  the  bom- 
barded city  produced  on  me.  I  had  been  in  Strasburg 
frequently,  and  knew  many  there  who  could  not  forget  the 
tics  which  bound  them  to  Germany.  Forty  years  ago  I  was 
here  with  Buchmaier,  and  at  that  time  this  great  broad  fellow 


WALDFRIED.  4  j  j 

planted  himself  before    the  Cathedral,  and  called  out,   "  1 
say,  tumble  down,  or  turn  German." 

Now  it  stood  there,  a  German  monument.  It  had  been, 
unfortunately,  struck  by  our  shot,  but  had  been  only  slightly 
injured  ;  and  from  far  and  near  one  could  behold  this  edi- 
fice, every  stone  and  ornament  of  which  is  German. 

Martha  could  look  on  nothing  but  the  face  of  her  Julius, 
and  on  one  other  thing — the  iron  cross  on  his  breast.  She 
asked  why  he  had  not  written  about  having  received  it ;  and 
Julius  confessed  that  he  had  not  done  so  because  a  promise 
that  was  not  yet  binding,  but  which  required  him  to  arrive 
at  some  conclusion,  was  connected  with  it. 

He  related  that  the  commanding  general,  while  fastening 
the  cross  on  his  breast,  had  said,  "  You  intend  remaining 
in  the  service  ?  "  to  which  he  had  not  answered,  but  believed 
that  he  had  nodded  "  yes,"  although  he  was  not  sure. 

And  now  he  wanted  to  learn  from  Martha's  lips  whether 
he  had  nodded  or  shaken  his  head. 

•  Martha  looked   at   me  and   said,   "  What   do  you    say, 
grandfather  ?  " 

I  said,  of  course,  that  this  could  be  decided  on  when  the 
war  was  over,  and  that  meanwhile  Julius  could  consider 
himself  a  professional  soldier.  I  thought  him  too  tender- 
hearted for  a  soldier,  for  he  had  said  to  me,  "  Grandfather  ! 
the  worst  feature  about  war,  is  not  the  fighting,  but  the  for- 
aging. It  is  heart-rending  to  force  people  to  deliver  up 
everything,  yet  it  must  be  done." 

The  thought  that  Julius  would  remain  a  soldier  was  pain- 
ful to  me,  for  I  had  cherished  the  hope  that,  at  some  time 
or  other,  he  would  take  charge  of  his  patrimonial  estate.  I 
could  not  agree  with  Lud wig's  American  ideas,  that  all 
property  should  be  personal.  But  what  matters  all  that  at 
present  ? 

27 


41 3  WALDFRIED. 

I  hunted  up  Baron  Arven.  Although  he  had  written  such 
hearty  letters  to  me,  I  found  that  he  had  again  become  formal 
and  brusque.  I  had  to  learn  that  in  war  times  small  matters 
can  receive  but  little  attention. 

The  Baron  directed  a  servant  to  accompany  me  to  the 
provisional  governor  of  the  province.  Although  I  had  been 
sent  for,  I  found  myself  treated  as  if  I  were  a  suitor.  I  had 
to  accustom  myself  to  the  North-German  manner,  which  re- 
gards every  sacrifice  you  may  bring  as  a  mere  matter  of 
duty. 

The  governor  remembered  that  Arven  had  spoken  of  me. 
He  begged  me  to  take  a  look,  for  the  present,  at  the  part  of 
the  country  with  which  I  was  acquainted,  and  then  to  report 
to  him. 

This  interview  sobered  me.  Was  this  the  frame  of  mind  in 
which  a  part  of  our  country  was  to  be  regained  ?  I  decided 
to  visit  my  sister,  and  then  to  return  home.  That  evening 
Arven  changed  my  resolution. 


CHAPTER  VIII. 

ARVEN  lived  in  the  hospital,  and  on  my  arrival  there 
I  was  welcomed  by  a  tall,  fine-looking  woman  in  a 
white  cap  and  white  apron.  It  was  Annette,  and  I  was 
not  a  little  astonished  to  meet  her  there ;  but  even  she 
had  no  time  to  spare,  for  she  said  she  had  to  return  to 
her  patients,  and  that  Arven  was  waiting  for  me  in  his 
room. 

This  was  really  the  case.  Arven  gave  me  a  hearty  wel- 
come, and  said  that  he  had  given  orders  that  he  was  not  to 
be  disturbed  excepting  in  case  something  of  great  importance 
needed  his  attention,  and  that,  for  this  evening,  he  would  be 
a  thorough  egotist. 

When  I  told  him  how  repellent  the  angularity  and  cold- 
ness of  the  Prussians  had  appeared  to  me,  he  said  that  this 
was  just  what  he  wanted  to  talk  to  me  about. 

He  had  been  exceedingly  provoked  at  their  cold-blooded 
manner.  He  had  already  determined  to  leave  them ;  but 
after  a  while  he  had  made  up  his  mind  that  this  sharpness, 
bitterness,  and  decision  were  the  forces  that  made  them  the 
men  they  were.  Obedience  is  with  them  a  habit  that  can 
be  depended  on.  We  South  Germans  are  too  soft  and  easy- 
going, and  we  ought  to  breathe  some  of  the  salt-sea  air  that 
blows  across  that  northern  country.  This  want  of  attention 
towards  others,  this  disregard  of  people's  feelings,  lay  in  the 
fact  that  they  had  no  consideration  for  themselves.  The 
French,  who,  whatever  they  do,  want  to  be  observed  and 
applauded,  will  be  beaten  by  these  men,  whose  whole  power 


42O  I'/ALDFRIED. 

rests  in  their  self-respect  We  used  to  think  the  Prussians 
were  braggarts  ;  bat  now  we  found  no  trace  of  boastfulness, 
and  in  spite  of  their  constant  victories,  they  took  every  pre- 
caution as  they  advanced,  and  were  prepared  for  defeat. 
Yes,  orders  describing  the  manner  of  retreat  were  issued  be- 
fore every  battle. 

He  could  not  cease  praising  them,  and  only  stopped  when 
he  added  that  he  thought  their  self-esteem  was  a  result  of 
Protestantism.  The  Baron  stopped  when  he  had  said  this, 
and,  after  we  had  eaten  and  drunk  to  our  hearts'  content,  he 
said  that,  although  he  was  a  Catholic,  he  would  never  confess 
to  a  priest  again,  but  that  he  would  confess  to  me ;  and  in 
case  he  should  not  return  from  the  war,  he  would  have 
the  satisfaction  of  feeling  that  his  inner  life  had  been  laid 
before  another,  for  an  hour  at  least. 

He  confessed  to  me  that  his  desire  had  been  to  die  in  this 
campaign,  and  it  was  for  this  reason  that  he  had  exposed 
himself  so  recklessly  when  collecting  the  wounded.  It 
seemed  strange  to  him  that  people  should  praise  his  courage, 
while  he  was  engaged  in  seeking  death.  He  thought  it 
would  be  the  best  thing  for  himself  and  his  children,  if  the 
great  sorrows  that  had  come  upon  them,  and  which  might 
come  again,  could  be  buried  with  him. 

He  then  groaned  aloud,  saying,  "  I  do  not  want  to  die 
before  their  eyes." 

I  saw  before  me  a  life  that  had  been  most  cruelly  broken. 
The  Baron  had  once  been  in  the  Austrian  army.  He  had 
never  expected  to  find  himself  at  the  head  of  his  family,  for 
he  belonged  to  the  younger  branch. 

In  Bohemia  he  made  the  acquaintance  of  a  girl  belonging 
to  a  noble  family,  and  was  subdued  by  her. 

Feodora  was  tall  and  majestic,  of  a  warm,  sensual  nature, 
but  cold-hearted.  Persuaded  by  his  sister,  he  became  en 


WALDFRIED. 


421 


gaged  to  her ;  but  felt  that  he  would  have  to  stand  alone  in 
life,  with  her  as  his  spouse. 

On  the  day  after  his  engagement,  he  suddenly  awoke  to  a 
horror  of  what  he  had  done.  He  was  visiting  the  large  estate 
of  her  father.  He  walked  through  the  park,  wrestling  with 
the  resolve  to  drown  himself  in  the  pond  ;  but  he  did  not  do 
so,  because  he  considered  it  his  duty  to  keep  his  plighted 
word  ;  and  besides,  the  hope  arose  in  his  breast  that,  at  some 
future  time,  a  closer  sympathy  would  be  brought  about.  Her 
beauty  fettered  him ;  in  short,  the  marriage  was  celebrated, 
and  he  lived  for  thirty-one  years  married,  but  lonely.  One 
by  one,  his  hopes  had  all  been  shattered.  He  had  persuaded 
himself  that  congeniality  was  not  necessary  to  happi- 
ness. 

But  after  awhile  he  discovered  what  it  was  to  be  united 
to  some  one,  and  at  the  same  time  to  be  alone.  The  sud- 
den death  of  the  last  of  the  main  line  of  his  family  placed 
him  at  the  head  of  the  house.  He  resigned  his  position 
in  the  army,  and  devoted  himself  to  agriculture.  He  had 
no  control  over  his  children — scarcely  any  influence  in  fact, 
but  as  his  sons  grew  up,  they  espoused  the  cause  of  Ger- 
many, and  would  have  nothing  to  do  with  the  conflict  which 
their  mother  and  her  ghostly  advisers  tried  to  stir  up. 

In  the  campaign  of  1866,  the  Baron  suffered  unspeaka- 
bly. He  was  homeless  in  his  own  house.  But  when  the 
present  war  began,  and  he  discovered  plots  that  he  would 
never  have  suspected,  the  conflict  broke  out  openly.  The 
two  sons  joined  the  German  army,  and  did  not,  or  would  not, 
knOvv  of  what  was  going  on  at  home.  I  dare  not  speak  of 
the  bitterness,  hate,  and  despair  that  filled  the  soul  of  this 
naturally  good-hearted  man,  and  appeared  in  the  course  of 
his  story.  "  I  had  to  confess  to  you  some  time,"  said  he 
finally,  "  and  I  chose  the  best  time. 


422  WALDFRIED. 

"  I  believe  that  your  wife  intuitively  knew  everything  that 
I  have  told  you." 

The  deep  misery  of  his  life  seemed  again  renewed  when 
he  cried,  "  I  do  not  wish  to  die  before  their  eyes." 

He  mentioned  Rautenkron,  and  said  that  their  cases 
were  similar.  Their  devotion  in  the  present  great  movement 
was  not  a  joyful  sacrifice,  but  indifference  and  contempt  for 
life  ;  they  wanted  to  die. 

I  was  deeply  pained,  and  also  gratified,  when  he  took  my 
hand  at  last,  saying  that  my  wife  and  I  had  kept  him  up  in 
the  faith  that  happiness  was  yet  to  be  found  on  earth. 
"And  now  I  must  make  a  further  confession.  It  was  a 
great  sacrifice  on  my  part,  considering  the  comfort  I  enjoyed 
in  your  house,  and  the  deep  sympathy  your  wife  showed  me, 
to  deny  myself  frequent,  yea,  daily  visits,  whenever  I  felt  like 
a  stranger  in  my  house  ;  and  as  one  banished  from  home,  I 
would  ride  across  the  hills,  and  down  into  the  valley  towards 
you  and  your  wife ;  but  when  I  had  reached  the  saw-mill,  I 
would  turn  back.  It  was  better  thus.  I  felt  that  your  wife 
knew  everything.  Though  I  was  a  man  who  had  sons  in  the 
army,  I  was  again  tossed  hither  and  thither  by  youthful  feel- 
ings ;  but  I  overcame  them.  I  think  I  ought  to  tell  you  this 
too ;  it  relieves  me,  and  cannot  oppress  you.  Of  all  men 
who  were  affected  by  her  sterling  qualities,  there  is  no  one 
who  worshipped  her  more  profoundly  than  I  did,"  said  the 
Baron  finally,  again  taking  my  hand. 

We  sat  there  in  silence  for  some  time,  and  I  was  made 
happy  by  the  thought  that  her  spirit  was  hovering  over  us, 
bringing  us  peace.  The  Baron  then  arose  and  said,  "  Now 
I  have  unburdened  myself,  and  am  free.  I  thank  you  for 
your  share  in  this  relief.  And  now,  no  more  of  this.  Now 
duty  calls." 

He  again  told  me  how  much  good  I  could  accomplish,  by 


WALDFRIED. 


423 


going  from  village  to  village,  and  from  house  to  house,  in  the 
region  in  which  I  had  long  been  known,  there  to  teach  the 
Alsatians  what  they  ought  to  learn. 

"  You  may  depend  on  one  thing,"  said  he  :  "you  will  have 
bitter  experiences.  You  will  be  looked  upon  as  a  spy. 
But  do  you  remember  what  your  wife  once  called  you  ?  " 

I  did  not  know  what  he  meant. 

"She  called  you  the  spy  of  what  was  good,  because  you 
always  discover  the  good  qualities  in  every  one.  Well,  be 
one  again." 

I  made  up  my  mind  to  cope  willingly  with  everything,  and 
went  to  my  sister's  the  next  day. 


CHAPTER  IX. 

WE  of  the  mountains  had  heard  the  cannonading ;  bui 
how  differently  had  it  affected  those  of  the  neighbor- 
hood, whose  homes  and  whose  all  were  at  stake.  We  could 
see  the  destruction  that  had  been  wrought  on  the  houses,  but 
not  that  which  had  wasted  the  nerves  of  the  people.  Where- 
ever  I  went,  I  found  every  one  feeling  restless  and  homeless, 
like  the  swallows  that  flew  about,  settling  here  and  there  ; 
but  only  for  a  moment,  for  their  nests  had  been  destroyed, 
along  with  the  houses  and  towers  and  fortifications. 

Every  one  I  met  had  a  puzzled  look  :  the  alarm  and  fear 
caused  by  the  incredible  disasters  that  had  overwhelmed 
them,  had  dazed  them,  and  they  seemed  hurt  by  friendly 
greetings — yes,  even  by  offers  of  assistance. 

My  brother-in-law,  the  forester,  a  man  who  ordinarily  bore 
himself  well,  seemed  entirely  broken  down.  He  stared  at 
me  in  silence  as  I  entered  his  house,  and  scarcely  answered 
my  greeting  with  a  slight  nod. 

My  sister  told  me  that,  since  the  siege  of  Strasburg,  he 
had  suffered  from  asthma,  and  that  he  constantly  repeated, 
"  General  Werder's  shots  have  taken  my  breath  away." 

On  looking  at  the  pictures  hanging  on  the  wall,  I  could 
see  plainly  what  these  people  would  have  to  thrust  aside. 
The  pictures  on  the  walls,  as  well  as  those  that  dwelt  in 
their  memory,  were  to  be  changed.  In  our  every-day  life, 
we  soon  forget  what  the  ornaments  on  the  wall  are  like. 
But  if  they  are  not  in  accord  with  the  times,  then  we  find 
out  what  was  once  ours,  but  has  now  ceased  to  belong  to 


V/ALDFRIED.  435 

us.  On  my  hinting  that  Germany  would  adopt  the  regained 
provinces  with  increased  affection,  my  brother-in-law  sprang 
up,  rolling  his  eyes  and  striking  the  table  with  his  fist,  and 
swore  that  he  would  emigrate.  My  sister  then  said  that  an 
oath  at  such  a  time  was  worthless ;  but  he  answered  in  bit- 
ter scorn — he  could  speak  nothing  but  French — "And  if 
no  one  will  accompany  me — I  cannot  force  the  trees  in  the 
forest  to  go  along — my  dog,  at  least,  will  be  my  companion. 
What  do  you  say,  Fidele — you'll  go  with  me?  You  won't 
take  bread  from  a  German ;  you  will  rather  starve  with  me  ?  " 
The  dog  barked  and  licked  his  master's  hand. 

I  could  see  what  a  difficult  task  I  had  before  me,  but  I 
did  not  give  it  up.  In  the  village,  in  the  houses,  and  before 
the  court-house,  wherever  the  people  were  gathered  to- 
gether, I  spoke  words  of  peace  and  encouragement  to 
them.  They  would  listen  to  me  as  if  they  were  forced  to  do 
so  ;  and  once  I  heard  a  man  behind  me  say,  "The  whole 
thing  is  a  lie,  white  hairs  and  all ;  he  is  some  young  fellow 
in  disguise."  I  seldom  received  a  straightforward  answer ; 
the  nearest  approach  to  a  reply  was,  "  What  are  we  to 
do  ?  "  "  What  are  we  to  learn."  The  feeling  at  the  bottom 
of  all  this  was, — to-morrow  the  French  will  be  back,  and 
drive  the  Germans  away.  It  is  impossible  to  conquer  the 
French. 

I  then  visited  my  brother-in-law,  the  parson,  who  lived  a 
few  miles  further  on.  He  spoke  of  nothing  but  the  excel- 
lent behavior  of  the  soldiers  that  had  been  quartered  on 
them.  They  went  to  church  on  Sundays  and  joined  in  the 
singing;  and  officers  of  high  rank  had  been  there,  too.  He 
seemed  nervous,  and  did  not  dare  to  express  his  joy — either 
because  he  feared  the  maid-servant  who  was  going  in  and 
out,  or  else  because  he  disliked  to  lay  bare  his  thoughts. 
It  was  only  while  walking  in  the  woods  that  he  unbosomed 


426  WALDFRIED. 

himself.  I  do  not  like  to  repeat  what  h  5  related,  as  I  pre- 
ferred not  to  believe  his  story.  He  told  me  that  the  French 
government  had  received  the  assurance  from  the  priesthood, 
that  the  South  Germans  would  not  take  the  field  against 
France.  I  do  not  believe  this,  but  it  is  the  current  opinion, 
and  so  I  feel  forced  to  repeat  it. 

He  also  said  that  the  beggars  from  the  Catholic  villages  of 
the  vicinity  had,  for  some  time  past,  ceased  asking  for  alms. 
They  had  walked  around  boldly  in  his  village,  selecting  the 
houses  they  intended  to  occupy  as  soon  as  the  Protestants 
had  been  exterminated. 

Thus  wickedly  had  religion  been  mixed  up  with  this  war. 

"The  thought  of  Germany,"  said  the  parson,  "always 
seemed  to  me  like  a  silent,  yea,  a  criminal  dream.  Now 
I  see  it  realized  in  broad  daylight.  We  are  like  the 
prodigal  son  of  Scripture,  but  the  truant  in  Alsace  is  this 
time  not  in  fault,  and  it  is  that  which  makes  his  return  to 
his  home  so  painful.  I  have  often  thought  that  the  father 
of  the  prodigal  must  have  offended  against  his  son,  although 
the  Scriptures  do  not  say  so,  otherwise  he  would  not  have 
been  thus  afflicted." 

He  was  merely  drawing  a  parallel,  yet  he  made  my  heart 
beat  with  the  thought  of  Ernst. 

The  father  of  the  prodigal  son  is  also  at  fault.  What  had 
I  been  guilty  of? 

When  we  returned  from  our  walk,  we  were  told  that  a 
French  soldier,  who  had  served  his  time,  had  called  to 
see  me  ;  he  had  not  given  his  name,  and  would  return. 

Who  can  he  be?  I  must  wait  to  find  out.  But  I  met  a 
man  in  the  village  whom  I  had  forgotten. 

The  advocate  Offenheimer,  Annette's  brother,  met  me, 
and  his  first  words  were,  "You  are  a  great  consolation  to 
me.  Come  with  me  and  give  my  son  an  escort." 


WALDFRIED.  427 

I  now  perceived  that  his  only  son  had  fallen,  and  that  the 
father  desired  him  to  be  buried  in  the  Jewish  cemetery 
here. 

As  he  divined  my  thoughts,  he  said,  "  It  is  true,  I  could  not 
allow  them  to  bury  my  son  out  there  with  the  others  ;  but  it 
is,  perhaps,  well  if  there  is  some  sign  here  of  our  having 
fairly  and  joyfully  taken  our  part  in  the  fight.  Perhaps  it 
will  have  a  mollifying  effect  upon  our  new  countrymen  of 
the  Jewish  faith,  who  were  particularly  contumacious." 

I  was  astounded  to  find  the  man  so  placid.  But,  as  if 
guessing  my  thoughts,  he  said  he  had  no  more  strength  for 
complaints  and  tears,  and  that  a  fact  must  at  last  be  ac- 
cepted. 

I  thought  of  the  handsome,  spirited  lad,  that  had  one 
time  come  to  me  with  Wolfgang.  But  I  greatly  desired  to 
find  a  favorable  opportunity  for  addressing  the  Jewish  inhab- 
itants of  the  village.  They  had  an  especial  fear  of  the 
Germans,  and  were  proud  of  PYench  equality. 

The  advocate's  son  was  buried  with  all  the  ceremonies  of 
his  church.  Two  slightly  wounded  South  German  officers, 
who  were  lying  in  the  village,  acted  as  the  escort.  They 
recognized  in  me  the  Colonel's  father-in-law,  and  had  much 
to  tell  me  in  his  praise. 

"  He  shows  that  we  are  not  inferior  to  the  Prussians." 
Such  appeared  to  be  the  highest  compliment  they  could  be- 
stow upon  him. 

Upon  our  return  from  the  cemetery,  to  which  the  Jews 
here  in  Alsace  give  the  peculiar  name  of  the  "  good  place,"  * 
the  advocate  leaned  upon  my  arm,  and,  as  I  sat  next  to  him 
in  the  little  room,  after  quietly  meditating  for  a  long  while, 
he  exclaimed,  "In  my  youth  I  had  willingly  died  for  the 

*  Guten  Ort. 


428  WALDFRIED. 

true  Fatherland ;  how,  my  son  has  been  permitted  to  die 
for  it." 

For  years  had  I  been  in  constant  intercourse  with  this 
man  ;  now,  in  his  grief  and  in  the  hour  of  civil  commotion, 
I  first  learned  to  know  him  ;  and  to  learn  to  know  an  up- 
right man  is  to  learn  to  love  him. 

I  have,  like  suffering  Odysseus,  participated  in  the  ex- 
periences of  many  men ;  Rautenkron,  the  Colonel,  and 
Arven  have  revealed  to  me  their  life-secrets.  Now  I  was 
to  hear  still  another's  :  the  history  of  a  step-child  in  his  step- 
fatherland,  who  still  longed  for  affection,  for  the  closest 
friendship,  and  who,  though  repulsed  and  oppressed  by  the 
laws  and  his  fellow-men,  had  not  yet  lost  his  love  for  them. 

As  Offenheiiner  recounted  the  grievances  he  had  suffered 
in  the  schools,  and  the  incivilities  and  insults  of  later  years, 
it  seemed  to  me  that  I  should  ask  his  forgiveness  for  all 
this  suffering  and  uncharitableness,  of  which,  because  of 
what  we  had  done  to  him,  and  of  what  our  ancestors  had 
done  to  his,  we  were  to-day  guilty.  Those  who  style  them- 
selves believers  in  the  religion  of  love,  would  be  much 
astonished  at  the  strength  of  this  man's  affections,  who, 
though  repulsed  and  scorned;  still  preserved  them  pure. 
We  live  a  whole  human  life  and  know  nothing  of  the  in- 
ward emotions  of  many  of  our  contemporaries.  Offen- 
heimer  spoke  with  great  severity  concerning  the  attempt  to 
obtain  recognition  by  means  of  extravagant  display,  that 
caused  many  Jews  to  appear  unpatriotic  and  presumptuous. 
He  explained  this,  indeed,  as  arising  from  the  necessity,  im- 
posed by  the  prejudice  against  his  race,  of  proving  its  claim 
to  respectability,  and  was  frank  enough  to  refer  to  the  early 
conduct  of  his  sister  as  an  example. 

Offenheimer  then  told  me  how  happy  it  had  made  him  to 
find  his  son  growing  up  in  comparative  ignorance  of  such 


WALDFRIED.  429 

persecutions — he  had  thus  developed  naturally.  He  smiled 
sadly,  as  he  added  that  he,  though  he  had  grown  physically 
larger  and  more  active,  had  acquired  a  lightness  of  heart 
which  the  man  who  is  obliged  to  win  his  freedom  before  en- 
joying it,  never  acquires. 

"  I  do  not  mourn  for  my  son,"  were  his  words  :  ' '  he  had 
reached  the  most  beautiful  period  of  life,  and  it  is  all  the 
same,  whether  a  man  lives  seventeen  years  or  seventy.  No 
man  liveth  to  himself,  and  no  one  dieth  to  himself,  says  the 
apostle;  and  that  is  true.  J  understand  it  to  be  true  in 
another  sense  as  well.  Each  of  us  dies  only  to  his  connec- 
tions and  his  posterity." 

It  was  a  novelty  to  me  to  hear  Holy  Writ  referred  to  as 
simply  the  teachings  of  wisdom.  I  have  since  then  often 
found  educated  Israelites  are  not  so  much  Jews,  as  simply 
not  Christians. 

Offenheimer  thanked  me  with  great  tenderness  for  the 
wonders  that  we  had  accomplished  with  Annette.  She  had 
been  proud  and  selfish ;  now  she  had  become  humble,  and 
lived  for  others. 

As  I  sat  with  him,  the  Rabbi  of  the  place  came  and  ex- 
pressed his  thanks  for  the  generous  subscription  that  had 
been  made  in  memory  of  the  fallen. 

One  word,  which  the  priest  then  uttered,  went  straight  to 
my  heart.  He  said  the  bereaved  father  would  find  consola- 
tion ;  for  the  Talmud  declared  that  the  patriarch  Jacob 
could  not  suppress  his  sufferings  and  his  tears  for  his  lost  son 
Joseph,  because  he  felt  within  himself  that  his  son  still  lived. 
Grief  for  one  who  is  dead  vanishes  when  the  corpse  becomes 
clay ;  for  a  living  lost  one,  the  grief  endures. 

Oh  !  my  lost  son  Ernst ! 

Upon  my  return  home,  I  found,  awaiting  me  in  the  village, 
a  man  in  a  blue  blouse,  with  a  short  pipe  in  his  mouth,  and 


WALDFRIED. 

wearing  bis  cap  awry.  He  approached  me  with  a  military 
salute,  and  said,  "Yes,  it  is  you." 

"Who  am  I?" 

"  His  father." 

"Whose  father?" 

"  Our  sergeant's,  Ernst  Tannling." 

"  That  is  not  my  name." 

"  Of  course  !  But  he  has  confided  to  me — he  took  me, 
indeed,  for  a  German — that  his  name  was  Waldfried.  Do 
you  remember  that  I  met  you  in  Paris  during  the  World's 
Exposition.  Your  son  deserted  in  1866,  and  has  a  bride. 
Have  I  the  correct  signs  now  ?  " 

Alas  !  he  had  them,  and  again  I  heard  that  Ernst  had  en- 
tered the  service  in  Algiers,  and  now,  probably,  was  in  the 
onward  movement  against  Germany. 

The  veteran  allowed  me  no  time  for  reflection.  He  con- 
fided to  me,  with  great  urgency  and  secrecy,  that  he  could 
be  of  great  service.  He  knew  that  I  had  great  influence, 
and  wanted  me  to  conduct  him  to  some  officer  of  high 
rank ;  he  could  be  of  great  service,  but  must  receive  liberal 
pay. 

I  had  learned  much  in  life,  but  for  the  first  time  there 
stood  before  me  a  man  who  offered  me  his  services  as  a 
spy.  He  had  seized  my  hand,  and  it  seemed  as  if  his  touch 
had  soiled  it. 

I  sought  further- intelligence  from  him  concerning  Ernst, 
but  he  knew  nothing  more.  I  took  him  with  me  and 
handed  him  over  to  an  officer  that  lay  here.  I  considered 
it  to  be  my  duty  not  to  discard  the  dirty,  but  perhaps  use- 
ful, tool. 

With  thoughts  of  Ernst  in  my  breast,  with  the  conscious- 
ness that  my  only  son  was  in  arms  against  the  Fatherland,  I 
was  not  in  the  mood  to  unburden  my  heart  to  others ;  and 


WALDFRIED.  43 1 

besides,  it  was  evidently  too  early.     Now,  since  force  yet 
speaks,  the  good-will  of  the  oppressed  cannot  be  won. 

I  turned  back  to  my  sister's,  and  was  much  delighted 
to  meet  Hartriegel,  the  so-called  forest  professor,  who  had 
been  sent  by  the  administration  to  inspect  the  forests. 


CHAPTER   X. 

WITH  Hartriegel  and  my  brother-in-law,  who  had 
again  in  a  measure  regained  his  composure,  I 
roamed  through  the  great  forest  district ;  and  this  refreshed 
my  soul,  though  the  terrible  thoughts  about  Ernst  accom- 
panied me  by  day  and  by  night  like  a  restless  ghost. 

It  was  the  night  of  the  twenty-sixth  of  October.  Hart- 
riegel remained  in  the  town.  I  had  stayed  with  my  sister ; 
a  storm  was  raging  that  seemed  to  portend  the  destruc- 
tion of  the  world.  Dogs  howled,  the  cattle  in  the  stalls 
bellowed  unceasingly ;  there  seemed  a  fearful  wailing  in  the 
rattling  of  the  thunder,  and  the  turmoil  and  uproar  of  the 
elements.  We  heard  sounds  like  the  splitting  of  trees,  con- 
tinually nearer  and  nearer.  We  all  sat  together  in  the  room, 
keeping  watch,  and  my  brother-in-law  exclaimed,  "It  is  just 
so  !  The  trees  even  will  clear  out  forthwith.  They  will  not 
be  German." 

As  he  said  this,  a  tree  behind  the  house  cracked  and  fell 
over  on  the  roof:  the  slates  rattled,  the  timbers  bent, 
and  the  storm  now  raged  through  the  house,  which  we 
could  not  forsake  ;  for  out  of  doors  the  tempest  raged  so 
wildly,  that  it  seemed  as  if  everything  that  stood  upright 
would  be  stricken  to  the  ground.  We  waited  until  daylight, 
and  at  early  morning  a  messenger  arrived  who  came  to 
tell  me  that  Julius  must  depart,  and  to  ask  whether  I  would 
not  bring  Martha  home  with  me.  The  messenger  also 
showed  us  an  "  extra,"  that  announced  the  capture  of  Metz, 
and  the  capitulation  of  173,000  men. 


WALDFRIED. 


433 


When  my  brother-in-law  heard  this,  he  exclaimed,  "  We 
are  betrayed!"  tore  down  the  epaulettes,  and  the  portrait 
of  Bazaine,  under  whom  he  had  served,  from  the  wall,  threw 
them  on  the  floor,  and  trampled  them  under  his  feet. 

The  messenger  told  us  the  roads  were  impassable  ;  every 
where  there  lay  trunks  of  trees,  and  near  the  house  a  slain 
stag.  He,  a  very  credulous  man,  had  spent  the  night  at  the 
Oak  of  Saint  Arbogast,  and  with  pious  fervor  praised  the 
saint  who  had  protected  him. 

After  he  had  partaken  of  refreshments,  he  escorted  my 
brother-in-law,  who  soon  came  back  with  the  dead  stag. 

We  were  separated  from  the  world,  and  my  sister  rejoiced 
that  she  still  had  something  for  us  to  eat.  . 

At  noon  there  came  a  neighboring  forester  with  his  men, 
and  everybody  was  called  upon,  and  worked  through  the  en- 
tire night  to  make  the  roads  again  passable.  Soldiers  were 
also  ordered  from  Hagenau  to  assist,  and  soon  I  heard  the 
singing  of  German  songs  in  the  woods. 

The  next  morning  Joseph  arrived  with  his  companion. 
He  had  been  ordered  by  the  chief  forester  to  buy  wood  here, 
and  had  now  decided,  since  it  was  so  conveniently  arranged, 
to  purchase  the  greater  portion  of  the  windfall.  What  terri- 
fied us,  awakened  in  him  a  speculation. 

"  In  the  forest  of  Hagenau,"  said  he,  "  there's  also  oak 
wood  for  Lud wig's  mill." 

It  was,  and  remained  so ;  everything  served  as  a  stepping- 
stone  to  Joseph. 

He  gave  us  further  particulars  of  the  capture  of  Metz,  and 
of  the  march  towards  Paris.  At  the  name  of  Paris,  my 
brother-in-law's  face  became  flushed  and  excited.  "That 
you  will  never  get,  never  !  "  he  said  ;  "the  world  will  go  to 
pieces,  first!  But  Metz,  indeed  !  And  i73>°°°  men  •  * 
believe  in  nothing  after  this  ! " 
28 


434  WALDFRIED. 

I  told  Joseph  of  Ernst ;  I  must  impart  it  to  some  one. 
But  Joseph  urgently  implored  me  to  eradicate  every  thought 
of  the  lost  one  from  my  breast. 

I  went  to  Strasburg,  but  the  governor  there  had  nothing 
to  tell  me.  I  was  so  weak  that  I  longed  for  home  again  ; 
there  I  hoped  to  regain  my  strength.  I  journeyed  home- 
wards with  Martha. 

At  the  last  railway  station  I  met  a  large  force  of  Tyrolese 
woodsmen  that,  upon  Joseph's  order,  had  been  sent  to  work 
for  him  in  Alsace,  and  as  I  neared  home,  I  saw,  here  and 
there,  clearings  in  the  woods.  The  tempest  had  also  raged 
here,  and  the  newspapers  brought  the  intelligence  that  over 
the  whole  continent  great  devastation  had  been  occasioned 
by  it. 


CHAPTER  XI. 

WE  had  much  to  do  to   set  up  trees  that  had  been 
prostrated  by  the  wind  ;  for  dead  trees,  because  of 
their  harboring  all  sorts  of  noxious  insects,  imperil  the  ex- 
istence of  a  whole  forest. 

There  came  good  letters  from  Julius,  Richard,  and  the 
vicar,  and  we  saw  war  life  from  three  quite  different  aspects. 
Bertha  sent  us  letters  from  the  Colonel.  He  wrote  but 
briefly.  He  must  have  been  suffering  great  hardships,  es- 
pecially in  the  protracted  rains ;  but  he  wrote,  "  when  one 
feels  inspired,  he  can  endure  much." 

They  tell  me  of  the  noble  courage  of  the  olden  time. 
When  man  fights  with  man,  he  receives  invigorating  impulse 
from  the  personal  struggle.  But  to  stand  under  a  shower  of 
fire,  then  advance  on  the  enemy  and  be  struck  by  far-carry- 
ing bullets,  without  firing  a  shot  until  one  is  at  the  right  dis- 
tance— all  that  is  much  more. 

Away  off,  the  cannon  thundered  ;  we  at  home  heard  noth- 
ing but  the  measured  beat  of  the  thrasher,  and  that  lasted  a 
long  while,  for  we  lacked  men  at  home. 

When  it  rained  and  snowed,  and  we  sat  sheltered  in  the 
room,  we  naturally  fell  to  thinking  of  those  who,  for  nights 
and  weeks,  fought  on  the  now  thoroughly  drenched  soil,  and 
for  their  brief  rest  had  no  couch  but  the  wet  or  icy  earth. 

Ludwig  wrote  from  Hamburg  that  he  was  about  going  to 
America.  He  was  to  make  the  journey  with  the  secret 
approval  and  authority  of  an  officer  of  high  rank,  in  order 
to  prevent  the  transmission  of  arms  and  ammunition  to 
our  foes. 


436 


WALDFRIED. 


How  much  war  demands  of  human  nature  ! 

Snow  had  fallen  ;  it  snowed  again  and  again,  and  we  knew 
that  what  here  was  snow,  up  there  was  cold  rain. 

I  sat  in  the  large  arm-chair,  and  read  the  gazette.  Here 
stands  in  few  words,  in  peaceful  paragraphs,  what  up  there  is 
blood  and  mangling  of  human  bodies.  It  is  indeed  grand 
and  sublime  how  the  French,  after  the  annihilation  of  their 
forces,  again  quickly  gather  together,  and  venture  every- 
thing. A  nation  cannot  surrender,  and  a  nation  that  is  so 
consciously  proud  and  all-powerful  cannot  easily  acknowl- 
edge, "  I  am  conquered,  and  am  wrong." 

They  would  not  give  us  security  for  our  boundary,  and  so 
the  fighting  and  the  devastation  must  still  go  on. 

While  I  thus  sat  quietly  thinking,  a  telegram  from  the  cab- 
inet of  the  Prince  was  brought  to  me  ;  I  must  forthwith  has- 
ten to  the  capital,  and  upon  my  arrival  at  the  palace  should 
cause  myself  to  be  immediately  announced,  be  it  night  or 
day. 

What  could  be  the  matter  ?  why  was  I  so  urgently  sum- 
moned? Was  it  on  Ernst's  account  ?  or  Richard's,  or  the 
Colonel's  ?  It  seemed  to  me  a  great  injustice  that  not  a 
word  of  explanation  accompanied  the  message,  yet  I 
equipped  myself  immediately  for  my  departure.  The  stone- 
cutter conducted  me  to  the  railway  station.  Joseph  was  not 
there ;  he  had  gone  on  to  Lorraine.  I  was  not  familiar  with 
his  business  enterprises. 

That — it  was  indeed,  strange — kept  my  thoughts  busy 
during  the  journey,  and  yet  was  I  much  oppressed  by  sus- 
pense as  to  the  reason  of  my  being  called  away.  But  hap- 
pily the  human  mind  can  engage  itself  with  new  problems, 
and  thus,  for  a  while  at  least,  forget  the  care  and  vexation 
that  lie  near  at  hand. 

I  reached  the  capital,  and  found  it  as  I  had  expected. 


WALDFRIED. 


437 


What  was  snow  with  us  in  the  mountains,  was  here  a  pene- 
trating rain. 

On  my  way  to  the  palace,  I  passed  a  brilliantly  lighted 
theatre,  and  heard  from  within  the  sounds  of  music.  Ah, 
that  men  should  sing  and  juggle  at  such  a  time  !  But  is  not 
life  a  mighty  aggregation  of  many  incongruous  individual  ac- 
tivities? ' 

I  reached  the  castle  ;  the  great  entrance  hall  was  lighted  up 
and  thoroughly  warmed ;  I  was  obliged  to  wait  a  long  time. 
When,  at  last,  I  saw  the  Prince,  I  found  him  unusually  dis- 
tressed or  disturbed.  He  began  by  observing  how  different 
times  were  when  we  last  had  met ;  he  said  how  deeply  it 
pained  him  that  so  much  blood  must  be  shed — so  much  noble 
blood.  He  said  this  with  deep  emotion,  and  finally  added, 
he  had  faith  in  me  as  a  man  of  stout  heart ;  I  had  so  nobly 
borne  *so  much  suffering,  that  he  had  courage  to  tell  me 
that  the  Colonel  had  been  wounded  by  a  shot  through  the 
breast.  He  was  still  living,  but  quite  unconscious,  when  the 
bearer  of  the  news  left,  and  perhaps  we  had  already  a  dead 
one  to  mourn. 

I  could  not  utter  a  word  ;  what  was  there  to  say  ? 

The  Prince  continued  to  speak  of  his  grief  at  the  shedding 
of  so  much  blood,  and  expressed  his  dissatisfaction  that  his 
countrymen  should  have  placed  themselves  in  alliance  with 
foreigners. 

I  had  no  time  nor  mind  for  such  discussions.  I  asked  if 
the  news  had  been  sent  to  my  daughter.  He  appeared  dis- 
turbed by  my  question,  and  somewhat  unwillingly  answered, 
"  I  considered  that  a  father's  right  and  duty." 

He  added,  that  this  evening  a  sanitary  commission  would 
depart,  with  whom  I  and  the  Colonel's  wife  could  go  to  the 
front. 

I  know  not  what  suggested  the  thought,  but  suddenly  it 


438  WALDFRIED. 

occurred  to  me  :  The  Prince  would  never  make  a  minister  of 
you ;  you  were  only  a  clever  story-teller,  who  drove  away  the 
recollections  of  his  own  sufferings  by  the  recital  of  your  life- 
history.  And  of  that  was  I  thinking  all  the  while  I  was  talk- 
ing to  the  Prince  of  other  things. 

The  demeanor  of  the  Prince  towards  me  seemed  cold  and 
distant.  He  called  after  me  without  extending  his  hand, 
"Adieu,  Herr  Waldfried  ! " 

Formerly,  I  had  been  called  "  dear  Waldfried ; "  yes,  at 
times,  "  dear  friend." 

I  mention  this  here,  although  it  first  struck  me  like  a  wak- 
ing dream,  during  the  journey.  I  was  glad  to  be  independ- 
ent, and  to  be  relieved  from  rendering  homage  to  princes, 
and  troubling  myself  as  to  whether  I  was  addressed  in  one 
way  or  another.  Although  in  my  inmost  heart  I  believe  in  a 
constitutional  monarchy,  I  tell  you,  keep  yourself  free,  and 
be  dependent  on  no  stranger's  favor,  or  else  you  will  be  the 
most  degraded  of  slaves. 

But  now  I  must  tell  of  my  sad  journey ;  and  I  think  of  the 
saying  of  the  Colonel's  :  Human  nature  in  its  elevated 
moods  can  endure  much. 

I  came  to  Bertha's  house.  My  heart  beat  wildly  at  the 
thought  of  the  news  I  should  bring  to  her.  But  as  I  as- 
cended the  steps,  Professor  Rolunt,  the  Colonel's  friend, 
approached  me,  and  said,  "  After  the  first  dreadful  shock, 
you  were  your  daughter's  first  thought.  She  has  asked  for 
you." 

"And  so  she  knows  of  it?" 

"Yes !  I  have  told  her,  and  we  are  off  in  an  hour." 

"  We !  " 

"  Yes !  I  go  with  her ;  and  keep  up  Bertha's  spirits. 
Should  the  worst  have  happened,  we  must  bear  it  all." 

I  went  to  Bertha.     Speechless,  she  threw  herself  upon  my 


WALDFRIED. 


439 


neck,  clasped  me  to  her  bosom,  and  wept  and  sobbed ;  nor 
could  I  utter  one  word. 

"Father!"  she  said,  at  last,  <;you  will  remain  here  with 
the  children — or  will  you  take  them  home  with  you  ?  " 

"No,  I  will  go  with  you.  Don't  refuse  me.  Don't  let 
us  waste  useless  words.  I  will  go  with  you." 

We  departed  in  the  evening.  We  rested  in  beds,  upon 
which  soon  should  lie  the  sorely  wounded.  But,  indeed,  we, 
too.  bore  painful  wounds  in  our  hearts. 


CHAPTER  XII. 

IT  was  well  that  Rolunt  accompanied  us ;  for  I  had  not 
the  strength  to  support  Bertha  in  this  wearisome 
journey,  and  to  distract  and  lead  her  away  from  her  quiet, 
noiseless  brooding,  and  her  counting  the  minutes  as  they 
slowly  passed. 

The  Professor  had  continually  something  to  tell  us,  either 
of  the  points  that  we  hurriedly  passed,  or  of  the  sanitary 
aids  who  were  with  us.  He  told  us  of  this  and  that  one  who 
had  been  a  spoiled  child — the  pet  of  some  fond  mother — and 
now  was  suffering  great  hardships.  This  was  the  second 
supply  train  that  he  had  accompanied ;  he  had  been  the 
chief  of  the  first  one,  and  had  much  that  was  moving  to  tell 
us  of  the  self-sacrificing  conduct  of  the  non-combatants. 
The  employes  of  the  post-office  and  the  railroads  were 
specially  endeared  to  him,  and  he  related  wonderful  instances 
of  their  activity  and  endurance. 

Bertha  scarcely  uttered  a  word;  for  the  most  part  she 
only  quietly  held  my  hand.  At  times,  she  said,  "  Ah  !  the 
locomotive  might  be  urged  to  move  faster ;  it  seems  to  me 
that  it  goes  much  too  slowly." 

The  Professor  assured  her  that  we  should  esteem  ourselves 
lucky  to  reach  our  destination.  Who  knows  how  soon  we 
should  hear,  "  Halt,  we  go  no  further." 

Once  Bertha  arose;  her  face  had  in  it  something  mys- 
terious and  strange,  and  she  cried  out,  "Father,  hold 
me ! "  - 

"  What  is  the  matter  ?    What  is  it  ?  " 


WALDFRIED.  44! 

"  I  think  I  must  escape  from  myself.  I  will  not  live  if  he 
is  dead.  Oh !  pardon  me,"  she  again  exclaimed,  sinking 
back  into  her  seat,  "i  cannot  endure  the  torment  of  my 
thoughts.  How  is  it  possible— how  can  it  agree  with  any 
order  in  human  affairs,  that  a  piece  of  lead  can  destroy  a 
full,  rich,  noble,  human  life  ! " 

She  gazed  at  me  with  a  peculiarly  alarming  expression ;  it 
was  as  if  pale,  pulsating  strands  were  tightly  drawn  under 
the  surface  of  her  skin.  Then  she  seized  my  hand  and  said, 
"  Pardon  me  for  inflicting  all  this  upon  you.  I  dare  not 
now  waste  my  strength  in  suffering ;  it  is  sinful,  it  is  selfish, 
and  it  is  terrible  to  wish  for  death.  All  my  strength  belongs 
to  him.  I  will  no  longer  complain,  and  will  no  longer  give 
up  to  despair.  Oh  !  if  I  could  only  sleep  !  One  can  give 
to  another  the  sleep  of  death,  but — I  will  be  very  quiet ; 
indeed,  I  will  not  think  any  more." 

She  leaned  back  and  closed  her  eyes. 

While  Bertha  appeared  to  sleep,  I  told  Rolunt  of  the  last 
interview  with  the  Prince.  He  explained  matters  to  me. 
He  said  the  Prince  had  believed  that  I  knew  all,  and  merely 
feigned  ignorance  for  his  sake.  It  was  no  secret  that  the 
Prince  was  beside  himself  with  rage,  because  the  general 
commanding  had  telegraphed  the  news  not  only  to  him,  but 
also  to  the  Prussian  embassy.  The  latter  made  no  secret 
of  it,  and  the  Prince  saw  in  this  an  attempt  to  obtain 
popularity  and  favor  at  his  expense.  He  hated  the  ambas- 
sador, as  a  legalized  superintendent  over  him,  who  left  him 
daily  conscious  that  he  no  longer  possessed  his  former 
sovereignty. 

It  was  fortunate  that  the  Professor  had  prepared  us ;  for — 
I  cannot  give  the  name  of  our  halting  place — we  suddenly 
came  to  a  stop.  We  had  to  wait  an  entire  day,  and  it  was 
only  a  day's  journey  to  where  the  Colonel  lay. 


442  IVALDFRIED. 

Rolunt  tried  negotiations  here  and  there;  he  had  be- 
come hoarse  from  much  talking.  At  last  he  carr.e  to  us 
with  a  cheerful  countenance.  A  shrewd,  energetic  man,  he 
had  succeeded  in  obtaining  a  wagon,  and  \ve  travelled  through 
the  country.  During  the  entire  night  we  drove  over  torn-up 
roads.  In  the  distance  we  saw  burning  villages.  How 
many  hundreds  of  peaceful  homes  were  there  destroyed. 
We  turned  our  eyes  from  the  sight.  We  went  through  vil- 
lages riddled  with  shot  and  shell,  and  through  others,  in 
which  here  and  there  a  light  shone,  and  where  we  halted  to 
feed  the  horses,  we  were  observed  with  ugly,  threatening 
glances.  But  the  country  was  safe  ;  Tor  it  was  everywhere 
occupied  by  detachments  of  our  troops. 

We  reached  the  village  where  the  Colonel  was  reported  to 
be  lying.  We  inquired  here  and  there,  but  found  him  not: 
he  must  be  in  the  next  village.  Thither  we  now  journeyed. 

We  met  an  artillery  corps,  and  had  to  move  into  a  field 
and  await  its  passing.  This  took  a  terribly  long  while. 
They  mocked  us  and  cried  at  us  in  sport  as  they  passed,  and 
we  were  almost  beside  ourselves  with  impatience.  And  still 
we  sat  there  protected  from  the  drizzling  rain,  while  our 
soldiers  were  steaming  like  horses. 

Rolunt  got  out.  He  asked  the  officers  of  the  column  after 
the  Colonel.  They  knew  nothing  of  him  ;  they  had  only 
just  arrived  from  a  long  march. 

At  last  we  were  permitted  to  proceed. 

At  the  entrance  of  the  next  village,  Bertha  recognized  a 
soldier  of  her  husband's  regiment. 

"  Is  your  Colonel  living  ?  "  she  asked. 

"  Yes,  yesterday  he  was  still  alive." 

"  And  to-day  ?  " 

"  Don't  know.     Haven't  heard  anything  about  him." 

I    felt    confident    that    he    was    yet    living.      I    could 


WALDFRIED.  443 

not  think  that  the  strong,  powerful  man  could  be  dead,  and 
my  hopefulness  helped  to  support  Bertha.  We  reached  the 
nouse  from  which  the  white  flag  with  the  red  cross  was 
floating.  I  commanded  my  daughter  to  remain  seated  in  the 
wagon,  and  to  inquire  of  no  one  until  I  returned.  She  gave 
me  her  promise,  but  she  could  not  keep  her  word,  and  it  was 
indeed  requiring  too  much  of  her.  She  saw  her  husband's 
servant,  and  called  to  him,  and  the  lad  said,  "The  Colonel  is 
living,  but — " 

"But  what?" 

"  He  is  very  low." 

We  entered  the  house,  and  the  first  one  we  met  was  An- 
nette. 

"  Be  composed,  Bertha  !  he  lives.  I  came  here  imme- 
diately on  receiving  the  intelligence  of  his  being  wounded, 
that  I  might  do  all  that  was  possible  for  him,"  she  said. 
She  embraced  her  friend,  and  added,  that  we  could  not  see 
him  :  he  could  not  bear  the  shock. 

The  Professor  begged  that  he,  at  least,  might  be  admitted. 
Annette  called  the  doctor,  and  he  gave  permission  to  the 
Professor  to  see  the  wounded  man. 

Annette  remained  with  us,  and  said,  "  The  bullet  has  not 
yet  been  found."  The  shot  had  entered  the  breast  just 
above  the  heart,  only  escaping  it  by  a  hair's-breadth. 

The  Colonel  led  his  regiment  independently  and  separated 
from  the  Prussians,  and  it  was  a  piece  of  jealousy,  and  the 
ambition  to  distinguish  himself,  that  caused  him  to  press  for- 
ward  so  recklessly  and  thrust  himself  in  danger's  way.  He 
had  to  march  over  a  plain,  to  take  a  battery  planted  on  a 
height,  and  it  was  there  that  he  was  struck. 

When  he  had  fallen,  and  saw  death  before  him,  he  ex- 
claimed, "The  Romans  were  right;  it  is  glorious  to  die  for 
one's  country.  \  want  no  other  grave;  let  me  be  buried 


WALDFRIED. 

-» 

with  my  soldiers."     Then  for  a  long  while  he  was  uncon- 
scious. 

After  a  little  while  Rolunt  came  to  us,  and  said  that  the 
Colonel  was  unable  to  speak,  but  by  his  glances  had  shown 
that  he  recognized  him. 

Bertha  begged  for  the  dress  of  a  nurse,  so  that  she  could 
at  least  venture  into  the  sick-room.  She  promised  not  to 
go  near  her  sick  husband.  But  the  doctor  emphatically  for- 
bade it  There  was  no  certainty  that  the  wounded  man 
would  not  recognize  her,  if  only  by  her  step  or  carriage. 
He  almost  feared  that  the  sick  man  might  suspect  some- 
thing from  the  presence  of  the  Professor  ;  for  he  opened  and 
shut  his  eyes  so  quickly.  And  so  we  had  to  wait  and  listen, 
and  were  condemned  to  inactivity. 

We  met  still  another  friend  :  Baron  Arven.  He  had  for- 
gotten his  own  griefs,  was  restlessly  active  and  appeared 
wondrously  rejuvenated.  In  an  hour  he  had  to  go  to 
another  hospital,  and  transferred  to  us  his  quarters,  in  which 
we  could  rest. 

Bertha  said  she  could  not  sleep;  but  consented  to  lie 
down  and  rest  herself,  in  order  to  gather  strength  for  what 
might  be  in  store  for  her.  She  lay  down  and  was  soon  fast 
asleep.  She  often  moved  convulsively,  as  if  troubled  with 
fearful  dreams,  but  still  continued  to  slumber.  I  at  last  also 
fell  asleep.  Towards  morning,  I  was  awakened  by  a  loud 
voice : 

"  I  must  see  him ;  I  have  found  him." 

Is  not  that  the  voice  of  Rothfuss  ?     Yes,  it  was. 

Bertha  also  awoke,  and  asked,  "Where  are  we?  Has 
the  train  stopped  ? "  I  explained  to  her  where  we  were. 
With  difficulty,  she  collected  herself.  She  went  directly  with 
us  to  the  house  where  the  Colonel  lay,  and  remained  with 
Annette.  She  heard  that  the  Colonel  had  also  slept,  and 


WALDFRIED.  445 

Annette,  who  had  sat  with  him,  remarked,  he  had  lightly 
whispered,  "  Bertha;"  he  must  suspect  that  she  is  here. 

Rothfuss  took  me   aside  and  said,   "  We  have  him  and 
her  also." 
•    "  Yes,  the  Colonel  and  Bertha." 

"  No,  no  !     Ernst  and  Martella.     '  The  Lord  God  is  the 
best  child's  nurse  for  wild  lads,'  my  mother  has  often  said." 

I  felt  as  if  reason  had  forsaken  me. 


CHAPTER  XIII. 

ONLY  gradually  did  I  clearly  comprehend  all  that  had 
happened  to  me. 

I  can  no  longer  count  the  shots,  nor  specify  whence  or  by 
whom  they  were  discharged  against  me,  and  how  it  was 
that  I  remained  unharmed.  But  I  have  passed  through  it 
all,  and  must  also  permit  you  to  experience  it. 

Rothfuss  related  to  me,  very  composedly,  that  he  had 
done  Carl  injustice ;  one  might  be  imprisoned,  although  in- 
nocent, and  it  happened  to  him  with  horse  and  wagon.  He 
and  the  bays  had  been  captured  by  the  wild  Turcos,  and  he 
had  almost  fancied  himself  in  hell  while  with  those  savages, 
who  did  not  even  know  how  to  talk  intelligibly. 

"  Sir !  they  would  have  shot  me  for  a  spy.  They  placed 
me  against  the  wall.  And  there  I  stand  and  they  aim  at  me. 
I  take  a  last  look  at  the  sky  and  the  trees,  something  dims 
my  sight,  and  I  think  to  myself,  if  it  were  only  over ! 
Then  some  one  calls  out,  '  Halt ! '  And  I  think  I  recognize 
the  voice.  He  talks  gibberish,  of  which  I  do  not  compre- 
hend a  word,  but  they  don't  shoot.  He  orders  me  to  be 
tied  tighter.  And  there  I  lie  in  a  miserable  stall  and  can't 
stir.  And  then  comes  some  one  sneaking  along,  and  whis- 
pers, 'Keep  yourself  quiet,  Rothfuss.'  And  who  do  you 
think  it  is  ?  Our  Ernst.  And  then  we  cried  together,  like 
little  children,  and  Ernst  said,  '  Keep  yourself  quiet !  What 
I  have  been  through,  couldn't  be  told  in  a  thousand  years. 
Now  come  with  me ! '  And  for  a  long  while  there  we 
were,  creeping  along  the  ground  like  frogs,  until  we  reached 
the  horses/ which  were  fastened  outside.  To  unloose  them, 


WALDFRIED. 


447 


spring  upon  them,  and  gallop  away,  took  but  a  moment. 
The  French  fired  at  us,  but  they  didn't  hit  us,  and  away  we 
went  until  we  reached  our  lines,  and  there  Ernst  said  to  me, 
*  You  once  passed  for  my  brother  Ludwig ;  now  do  as  much 
for  me  !  Give  me  your  clothes  ! '  " 

Rothfuss  had  to  give  him  his  blue  blouse.  Then  Ernst 
transferred  his  horse  to  him,  and  said,  "  Leave  me  now !  we 
will  soon  meet  again." 

Rothfuss  was  about  relating  how  he  had  found  Martella, 
ft'hen  she  entered.  She  had  become  very  thin,  but  otherwise 
unchanged  ;  was  gayly  attired,  and  cried  out  as  she  perceived 
me  :  "  Oh  !  father,  happily  met  again  !  To-day  is  Ernst's 
wedding-day,  and  my  Sunday,  my  greatest  holiday,  my  ascen- 
sion-day." 

She  offered  no  excuse  for  having  run  away ;  she  made  no 
mention  of  her  recent  experiences,  and  as  I  could  not  avoid 
telling  her  what  pain  and  anxiety  she  had  occasioned  me, 
she  exclaimed,  "I  know  it  better  than  you  can  tell  me  ;  but 
indulge  me  for  to-day  :  to-morrow,  when  I  have  Ernst  by  the 
hand,  we  will  set  everything  straight.  He  rescued  Carl,  who 
would  have  bled  to  death,  if  he  had  not  found  him. 

"  Ernst  carried  him  ;  yes,  he  is  strong ;  he  brought  him  all 
the  way  here.  His  face,  his  hands,  his  clothes,  were  all 
full  of  blood.  But  that  doesn't  hurt ;  it  can  all  be  washed 
off.  Everything  can  be  washed  away  if  one  is  sound  within  ; 
and  now  everything,  everything  will  be  washed  away. 

"  Now  I  heard  that  Ernst  had  come  to  the  regiment  in 
which  Carl  was.  He  introduced  himself  as  a  German  with 
the  name  of  Frohn."  Martella  added,  "  That  is  the  name  of 
a  comrade,  who  on  the  voyage  threw  himself  in  despair  into 
the  sea." 

Ernst  had  declared  that  he  w<j  aid  not  fight  against  his 
countrymen,  but  with  them  against  he  French.  What  proofs 


448  WALDFRIED. 

of  loyalty  he  was  submitted  to  have  never  been  made  known 
to  me.  He  was  uniformed  and  placed  at  a  post  of  danger, 
where  a  strict  watch  could  be  kept  upon  him.  He  conducted 
himself  bravely,  and  when  Carl  was  struck,  he  rescued  him 
at  the  risk  of  his  own  life.  But  he  was  never  recognized, 
and  none  but  Carl,  Martella,  and  Rothfuss  knew  who  he 
was. 

They  had,  during  the  night,  heard  of  my  arrival,  and  Ernst 
had  stood  guard  before  the  house  for  hours.  Martella  had 
shown  him  the  letter  of  pardon  ;  but  he  exclaimed  that  he 
wished  no  pardon,  and  would  not  examine  the  letter. 

Martella  begged  him  to  show  himself  to  me.  But  he  said, 
"  I  know  of  how  many  nights  of  rest  I  have  robbed  my 
father ;  I  will  not  now  disturb  his  slumbers,  and  will  for  the 
first  time  appear  before  him,  and  clasp  his  knees,  when  by 
I  have  done  something  to  show  him  what  I  am  at  heart. 
When  I  come  out  of  the  battle,  I  will  go  to  my  father :  then 
I  can  look  him  in  the  face." 

"Right,  right,"  said  Martella;  "if  you  go  into  the  fight 
with  such  thoughts,  you  will  surely  come  out  of  it  safe  and 
sound,  and  your  mother  in  heaven  will  stretch  her  hands  in 
blessings  over  you." 

"  My  mother  in  heaven  ?     Is  she  dead  ?  " 

"  Didn't  you  know  it  ?  Alas  !  already  over  three  years  ; 
she  died  upon  your  birth-day." 

"  On  my  birth-day !  "  He  said  this,  and  was  then  for  a 
long  time  silent.  Then  again  he  said,  "  I  think  I  dare  not 
kiss  you  again  to-day." 

"Your  mother  loved  you  to  her  latest  breath,  and  she 
kissed  me  just  before  she  died." 

"  He  sighed  heavily  and  then  kissed  me,"  said  Martella, 
"  Only  once  again  ;  for  the  last  time.  No,  not  for  the  last 
time  !  he  must  live  ! " 


WALDFRIED.  449 

Just  as  Ernst  had  again  gone  away,  there  came  the  order 
to  march  immediately  without  baggage.  The  people  never 
knew  beforehand  when  there  was  to  be  a  battle  ;  but  such  a 
command  naturally  gave  rise  to  anticipations  of  a  fight. 

As  Martella  turned  away,  while  Ernst  prepared  for  his  de- 
parture, she  heard  the  voice  of  Rothfuss,  who  told  the  baker 
Lerz  that  his  bays  were  ruined,  but  that  he  had  received  two 
fine  Burgundians  in  exchange. 
29 


CHAPTER   XIV. 

IT  was  now  highly  important  to  find  Ernst.  We  left  the. 
house  before  day-break  ;  Bertha  was  still  sleeping. 

I  permitted  Martella  and  Rothfuss  to  conduct  me  to  the 
hospital  in  which  the  Colonel  was  lying.  I  was  scarcely  con- 
scious where  I  was,  or  whither  I  was  going  ;  1  felt  as  if  there 
W9S  a  heavy  burden  upon  my  shoulders,  and  could  not  help 
looking  to  Hhe  right  and  left,  as  if  something  was  threat- 
ening me.  But  I  could  endure  ft  and  could  proceed  without 
assistance. 

Rolunt  seemed  to  have  expected  me.  He  said  the  Col- 
onel was  in  about  the  same  condition,  neither  better  nor 
worse.  I  bade  him  send  one  of  the  female  attendants  to 
Bertha ;  I  could  not  tell  him  who  it  was  I  sought. 

When  we  left  the  house,  my  grandson,  the  vicar,  ap- 
proached me.  "  Grandfather,  I  know  all,"  said  he,  "  but  at 
such  a  time  one  can  bear  manifold  troubles.  I  also  endure 
them ;  I  have  just  come  from  my  sad  duties  at  a  death- 
bed." 

I  told  him  that  we  were  seeking  Ernst,  and  we  thought  he 
might  be  with  those  with  whom,  just  before  the  march,  he 
had  held  a  brief  divine  service.  We  went  with  him.  The 
day  began  to  dawn. 

The  graceful  figure  of  Martella  seemed  to  hover  in  the 
gray  twilight,  and  as  she  turned  and  looked  upon  me,  it 
seemed  to  me  that  the  extraordinary  depth  of  the  sockets 
of  her  eyes  was  greater  than  ever.  There  was  something 


WALDFRIED. 

sadly  brilliant  in  her  glance,  and  it  seemed  directed  to  a  dis- 
tance. 

Before  the  village,  on  a  plain  in  front  of  a  small  hill,  the 
regiments  were  formed  in  deep  squares,  presenting  masses 
that  looked  like  church  walls. 

We  searched  around.  Martella  went  to  the  left,  Rothfuss 
to  the  right.  They  came  back  ;  they  had  not  found  Ernst, 
and  yet  he  must  be  there.  Martella  stood  qui'&ly  near  me  ; 
only  once  did  she  look  up  at  me,  and  her  eye  was  pifircingly 
brilliant.  She  folded  her  hands  together  convulsively,  ap- 
parently, also,  to  conceal  her  trepidation. 

A  chorale  was  performed  by  the  band,  in  which  all  the 
troops  present  joined,  while  the  heavens  reddened  as  the 
vicar,  with  steady  steps,  descended  the  hill,  and  wended  his 
way  towards  us.  Every  one  held  his  breath  ;  perhaps  Ernst 
is  down  there  among  them. 

The  vicar  spoke  with  a  clear  voice.  He  had  pleased  by 
his  written  words,  but  when  he  spoke,  it  was  still  better  and 
more  inspiring. 

"  See  here  !  "  he  exclaimed.  "  I  have  come  here  without 
any  Bible.  Holy  is  the  Book  of  Revelation,  thrice  holy. 
With  it  the  world  has  learned  to  comprehend  itself  and  God, 
and  will  gather  instruction  from  it  to  all  eternity. 

"  I  carry  it  in  my  heart,  and  from  my  heart  I  call  out  to 
you  in  the  words  of  the  Apostle  Paul  (Romans  xiv.  7)  : 
1  For  none  of  us  liveth  to  himself,  and  no  man  dieth  to  him- 
self.' That  should  be  in  your  soul,  in  your  memory,  should 
your  soul  be  in  a  struggle,  and,  if  it  must  be  so,  in  'Jeath. 
Thou  art  not  for  thyself  in  this  world,  and  goest  not  for 
thyself  from  this  world.  Thou  art  called,  thou  art  mustered 
for  the  great  universal  battle  for  the  holy  kingdom  of  the 
spirit,  of  honor,  of  freedom,  of  unity. 

"  Just  imagine,  ye  who  have  achieved  the  victory  and  must 


452 


WALDFRIED 


again  win  it,  how  it  would  be  if  all  these  things  were  re- 
versed. 

"  The  spirit  of  darkness  hovers  in  the  air  like  millions  of 
black  ravens,  hiding  the  sun  and  blighting  everything  that  hath 
life.  Through  the  streets  of  thy  native  villages  rage  the  wild 
hordes  of  Asia,  and  murder,  robbery,  outrage,  and  fire  prevail 
everywhere. 

"  Thou  who  mournest  thy  brother,  or  thy  fallen  comrade, 
thou  that  liest  wounded,  forget  thy  pain.  Open  thine  eyes  ! 
Through  thee,  through  thy  comrades,  the  light  of  the  world 
is  rescued  :  knowledge,  justice,  decency,  honor,  integrity.  I 
say  it  to  you  and  you  may  say  it  to  each  other ;  for  thus  has 
God  willed  it. 

"  And  thou  who  still  holdest  the  weapon  in  thy  firm  grasp, 
be  of  cheerful  heart  \  The  saints  hover  over  the  banners 
that  you  shall  victoriously  bring  home  ;  and  when  the  bloody, 
cruel,  terrible  work  is  done,  then  you  will  permit  no  other 
pride  to  possess  you,  than  that  you  were  summoned  to  labor 
for  the  kingdom  of  freedom  and  unity,  for  the  kingdom  of 
the  spirit,  in  which  there  is  no  enemy  to  be  conquered,  but 
in  which  each  shall  be  a  moving  temple  of  the  Holy  Spirit, 
Keep  yourselves  firm  :  for  none  of  us  liveth  to  himself,  and 
no  man  dieth  to  himself.  Amen  !  " 

A  quiet  prayer  was  offered  up  ;  then  the  regiments  moved 
into  column,  and  the  whole  army  set  itself  in  motion. 

The  vicar  came  to  me,  and  for  a  long  while  held  me  by 
the  hand.  We  uttered  no  word.  Then  he  followed  the 
army,  and  I  went  with  Rothfuss  and  Martella  back  to  the 
hospital. 


CHAPTER  XV. 

WE  met  Annette,  whose  presence  had  greatly  improved 
Bertha's  spirits. 

Annette  took  us  into  an  out-of-the-way  room,  and  there 
said,  "  I  have  for  a  long  time  called  you  father  from  mere 
sentiment.  You  allowed  me,  but  now  I  dare  to  do  so  because 
it  is  my  right." 

She  gave  me  a  letter  from  Richard,  from  head  quarters,  and 
the  letter  was  addressed,  "  My  beloved  bride." 

Annette  kissed  my  trembling  hands,  and  she  kissed  me 
again  and  again,  when  I  told  her  that  my  wife  in  her  dying 
hour  had  called  out,  "  Richard  will  marry  her  after  all." 

Annette  added  that  they  did  not  intend  to  get  married 
until  peace  was  concluded. 

"  Of  course,"  said  Bertha,  as  if  addressing  me,  "you  will 
understand  that  we  can  give  no  expression  to  our  joy  just 
now." 

Annette,  indeed,  did  not  permit  us  to  linger  long  over 
this  joyful  message.  She  said  that  her  patients  now  claimed 
all  her  time,  and  only  while  we  were  descending  the 
steps,  she  once  stopped  and  quietly  related  to  us  how 
her  old  custom  of  pouring  out  her  feelings  with  every  new 
experience  had  suddenly  opened  the  hearts  that  had  so 
long  been  as  if  sealed  towards  each  other.  She  had 
said  to  Richard,  who  recently  passed  through  here,  "  So 
long  as  men  are  well,  they  are  all  alike.  When  they 
are  wounded  or  sick,  each  one  displays  the  traits  that 
are  peculiar  to  him."  Then  Richard  replied,  "  You  speak 


454  WALDFRIED. 

from  my  mother's  soul ; "  and  on  that  day  they  were  be- 
trothed. 

"  Now  I  no  more  need,"  said  Annette,  as  we  went  on, 
"  to  chloroform  my  soul  with  religion.  I  have  learned  to 
apply  the  real  chloroform,  and  in  helping  others  we  help 
ourselves  also." 

Annette  invited  us  to  go  with  her  to  the  patients ;  she 
might  thereby  make  the  tedious  hours  of  watching  more 
easy  for  Bertha.  She  first  conducted  us  to  a  handsome 
young  man  with  a  full,  blond  beard,  whose  thigh  had  been 
fractured.  Her  mere  appearance  seemed  to  revive  the  sick 
man. 

It  was  a  pathetic  look  with  which  he  gazed  upon  her,  and 
stretched  his  thin  hand  towards  her. 

Annette  introduced  him  to  us  as  an  artist  of  great  repute, 
and,  assuming  a  merry  tone  of  voice,  she  said,  "He  has 
painted  me  in  other  colors.  He  does  not  like  the  dull  and 
sombre  black ;  indeed,  the  silver-gray  dress  with  the  white 
apron  is  much  more  cheerful.  And  why  should  we  not  be 
cheerful?" 

The  face  of  the  young  man  brightened,  and  Annette  bade 
Bertha  to  read  something  to  him.  In  going  the  rounds,  she 
made  us  acquainted  with  a  wounded  German  officer,  who 
never  ceased  heaping  extravagant  praises  upon  his  nurse. 
Annette  bade  me  to  come  quickly  to  a  man  from  my  vil- 
lage, for  whom  I  could  perhaps  do  something,  and,  with  a 
trembling  voice,  mentioned  Carl's  name  to  me. 

We  approached  his  bed.  He  gazed  upon  me  with  staring 
eyes,  and  cried,  in  heart-rending  tones,  "  Mother,  mother ! " 
I  spoke  to  him ;  I  asked  him  if  he  knew  me.  But  he  contin- 
ually exclaimed,  "  Mother,  mother,  mother  ! " 

The  surgeon  came  and  bade  us  leave  the  patient.  Then 
he  said  to  Annette,  "  Have  a  screen  placed  here.  This 


WALDFRIED.  455 

young  man  may  die  at  any  moment,  and  the  others  should 
neither  see  nor  know  of  it." 

Just  as  the  screen  was  put  in  its  place,  the  door  opened, 
and  a  voice  was  heard,  "  My  child  !  my  child  !  Carl !  my 
child!  Carl!" 

"Mother,  mother!"  cried  the  wounded  man,  and  he 
raised  himself  up,  and  mother  and  son  were  folded  in  each 
other's  arms.  Then  Carl  cried  out,  "  Marie  !  you  too  !  you 
too,  there  !  Come  !  " 

He  then  fell  back. 

The  surgeon  then  approached  and  said,  "  He  is  extremely 
weak,  and  in  a  critical  condition  ! "  Restoratives  were  ap- 
plied and  he  opened  his  eyes. 

After  a  while  he  said,  "  How  did  you  know  that  I — " 

"  Be  quiet !  don't  speak  so  much  !  Don't  exert  yourself 
too  much.  Your  eyes  have  already  told  me  everything. 
And  now,  yes,  it  was  the  vicar,  Waldfried's  grandson,  who 
wrote  me  where  you  were." 

11 1  am  hungry.     Give  me  something  to  eat ! " 

"  I  have  brought  you  one  of  our  hens ;  I  brought  it  all 
the  way  from  home,"  said  the  old  woman. 

"  I  must  eat,  I  must  eat !  "  exclaimed  Carl.  His  strength, 
wasted  and  exhausted  through  loss  of  blood,  appeared  to 
return,  and  he  seemed  rescued  by  the  magic  of  love. 

His  mother  ought  to  have  left  him,  but  she  would  not 
obey  the  surgeon.  She  obeyed  me,  however.  When  she 
saw  Bertha,  she  cried  out,  "  My  son,  my  Carl,  my  child 
lives  !  Bertha  !  I  tell  you,  your  husband  who  lies  there — 
Bertha,  your  husband  is  saved  too  :  he  will  be  saved." 

"  Bertha  !  "  We  heard  a  call  from  the  adjoining  room; 
it  was  the  voice  of  the  colonel. 

Bertha  almost  swooned ;  I  caught  her  in  my  arms.  She 
collected  herself  and  hurried  towards  the  door;  it  was 


456  WALDFRIED. 

closed.  Annette  called  to  us  from  within,  that  we  should 
wait  quietly,  for  it  was  a  critical  moment. 

What  anxious  moments  were  those,  while  we  stood  at 
the  door  listening  to  the  movements  and  groans  within. 

After  a  while,  the  surgeon  hastily  opened  the  door,  and 
said,  "Now go  away  softly  ! .  There  has  been  a  hemorrhage, 
and  the  ball  has  come  with  it.  There  is  now  a  chance  of  his 
recovery,  but  I  must  insist  on  perfect  quiet ! " 

Bertha  sank  to  the  floor,  while  she  placed  her  finger  on 
her  lips,  and  motioned  me  to  be  silent.  They  say  that 
we  were  only  waiting  a  quarter  of  an  hour.  But  oh  !  how 
long  it  seemed  !  Then  the  surgeon  opened  the  door  again, 
and,  seeing  Bertha  on  the  floor,  said,  "  You  may  go  in  now 
and  shake  hands  with  the  Colonel,  but  do  not  say  anything 
to  him,  as  he  is  not  allowed  to  speak  for  the  present." 

Bertha  went  in.  She  reached  her  hand  to  her  husband. 
He  moved  his  eyes  in  recognition ;  then  the  surgeon  mo- 
tioned us  to  depart. 

We  went  away.  From  afar,  we  could  hear  the  rattle  of 
musketry  and  the  roar  of  artillery,  and  the  reports  constantly 
became  louder  and  more  frequent. 


CHAPTER  XVI. 

EVENING  was  approaching,  when  the  surgeon  sent  us 
\vuid  that  his  patient  had  been  sleeping.  He  had 
awakened  and  asked  for  Bertha  and  me. 

We  went  to  him.  He  could  only  recognize  us  by  glances, 
and  a  wonderful  smile  overspread  his  features.  He  turned 
his  eyes  to  the  surgeon,  who  understood  him,  and  said, 
"  Yes,  your  wife  may  sit  here  for  a  quarter  of  an  hour.  But 
you  must  both  be  perfectly  quiet." 

And  so  we  sat  there  speechless,  and  heard  the  din  of 
battle  gradually  cease;  only  occasional  shots  were  now 
fired. 

I  was  called  to  the  front  of  the  house.  Martella  and 
Rothfuss  stood  before  me.  Martella,  breathless,  told  me  that 
Ernst's  company  had  again  been  in  the  fight,  many  were 
missing,  and,  among  them,  Ernst ;  he  ought  to  be  hunted  up. 

Rothfuss  desired  that  I  should  stay  behind ;  but  Martella 
exclaimed,  seizing  my  arm,  "  What  do  you  mean  ?  Father 
goes  with  us  !  " 

She  had  made  a  wreath  to  take  to  Ernst,  and  she  held  it 
in  her  trembling  hands.  She  carried  Ernst's  prize-cup  and 
a  bottle  of  wine  in  a  basket  on  her  arm.  * 

We  went  through  the  village  towards  the  hill.  Four  men 
approached  with  a  litter. 

"  Ernst !  Ernst ! "  cried  Martella. 

The  two  men  stopped,  and  one  asked,  " Who's  there? 
Who  calls?"  It  was  Ikwarte's  voice. 

"Set  it  down!"  commanded  the  other.  "Isn't  that 
Martella  ?  "  It  was  Wolfgang  who  spoke. 


453 


IVALDFRIED. 


We  stepped  nearer.  They  carried  a  man  who  had  been 
shot  in  the  leg.  The  man  raised  his  head,  and  said,  "  That 
is  his  father."  It  was  the  son  of  the  owner  of  the  saw-mill 
down  in  the  valley.  "  He  commissioned  me  to  carry  his 
love  to  you.  He  made  himself  known  to  me." 

"  Where  is  he  ?     Is  he  dead  ?  " 

"  He  must  be  lying  up  there.  Oh  !  he  has  done  great 
things." 

"  What  has  he  done  ?  Where  is  he  ?  "  anxiously  inquired 
Martella.  "  Speak  !  be  quick  !  listen,  father  ! " 

The  wounded  man  raised  himself  with  difficulty  and 
spoke  : 

"  We  stood  within  range  of  the  enemy's  batteries.  Shot 
after  shot  tore  through  our  ranks.  Many  were  falling. 
Everybody  sheltered  himself.  Ernst  stood  upright,  and  said 
in  a  clear  voice,  'Stand  firm!  Face  the  bullets!  That's 
the  way  to' be  brave.'  Finally,  we  advanced,  when  a  lieu- 
tenant was  shot  in  the  forehead  ;  our  sergeant  stepped  into 
his  place,  and  he  also  fell.  Then  Ernst  took  command,  and 
marched  along  by  the  drummer.  Bang  !  then  the  drummer 
was  shot.  Ernst  unloosened  the  drum  from  his  body,  and 
drummed  for  us.  He  beat  a  powerful  flourish,  and  cried  out, 
'  Give  it  to  them  ! '  Then  there  came  a  shell,  and  I  lay  on 
the  ground  and  saw  nothing  more.  When  I  came  to  myself, 
I  still  heard  drumming.  But  all  at  once  there  was  a  report, 
a  cry — and  the  drumming  ceased." 

Martella  tore  up  the  wreath ;  but  she  quickly  seized  the 
grasses  and  flowers  and  held  them  with  a  convulsive  grasp. 

"Away!  away!  we  must  find  him!"  she  exclaimed. 
"We  must  find  him  !  He  is  living  !  " 

Ikwarte  and  Wolfgang  hastened  with  the  wounded  man 
into  a  neighboring  house.  Not  far  off,  a  wagon  stopped. 
They  returned  with  it,  and  Wolfgang  and  Martella  sat  in  it 


WALDFRIED. 


459 


with  me.  So  we  drove  on  through  the  entire  night.  Ikwarte 
knew  where  the  miller's  son  was  sheltered.  We  were  silent ; 
only  Martella  murmured  to  herself,  "  Keep  up,  Ernst ;  keep 
up  !  We  are  coming  !  Oh !  mother  in  heaven,  look  down 
upon  him ! " 

We  were  obliged  to  get  out — the  road  crossed  the  fields. 
I  went  a  little  distance,  but  could  go  no  farther.  Both 
of  the  faithful  servants  begged  that  Wolfgang  would  stay 
with  me.  We  sat  down  by  the  roadside,  and  noticed  a  mov- 
ing object  quite  near  us.  It  was  a  wounded  horse,  that  raised 
its  head,  and  then,  with  a  rattle  in  its  throat,  fell  back  dead. 

We  heard  Martella,  across  the  field,  calling,  "  Ernst  J 
Ernst !  my  Ernst !  where  are  you !  Ernst  1  we  are  here, 
your  father  and  I !  "  Then  we  heard  nothing  more. 

A  chill  seized  me.  The  ground  was  damp,  and  Wolfgang 
insisted  that  I  should  sit  upon  the  dead  horse,  whose  body 
was  still  warm.  We  quietly  waited.  In  the  heavens  the 
clouds  were  scudding  by,  and  here  and  there  the  stars 
sparkled.  In  the  village  a  clock  commenced  striking. 
Wolfgang  counted  aloud :  it  struck  eleven. 

Now  some  one  approached;  rny  name  was  called.  It 
was  Ikwarte. 

"We  have  found  him,"  he  joyfully  exclaimed.  "Come 
quickly ! " 

"Is  he  living?" 

"Yes." 

Accompanied  by  Ikwarte  and  Wolfgang,  I  went  along. 
Oh !  I  cannot  tell  the  horrors  I  then  saw  and  heard. 

"  There,  by  the  torch,  there  he  is  ! " 

My  knees  shook  under  me.  Then  a  man  came  again 
towards  us,  and  cried  out,  "  Grandfather,  come  !  There  is 
yet  time ! " 

It  was  my  grandson,  the  vicar.     We  reached  the  place. 


46o 


WALDFRIED 


There  lay  Martella  on  the  ground  bending  over  a  figure. 
Rothfuss  stood  by  her  with  the  torch,  and  Martella  cried, 
"  Ernst,  wake  up  !  Your  father  is  here  !  " 

I  kneeled  down  by  him.  I  saw  his  face.  His  eyes  were 
closed,  but  his  breast  rose  and  fell  quickly. 

"  Ernst !  my  beloved  child  !  my  long-lost  child  !  Ernst ! 
your  father  calls  you  !  Your  mother  calls  you  from  eternity  ! 
Ernst,  you  shall  live  !  you  have  repented ;  you  have  atoned  ! 
Ernst,  Ernst !  my  son,  my  son  !  " 

He  opened  his  eyes  and  moved  his  hand  towards  me.  I 
seized  it ;  it  was  stiff. 

"  Father,  forgive  ! "  he  moaned.  "  Martella,  pardon ! 
Oh  !  mother— father  !  " 

He  breathed  his  last  breath.  I  just  saw"  Martella  throw 
herself  upon  him,  with  an  agonizing  cry;  then  I  saw  and 
heard  nothing  more. 


BOOK    SIXTH. 


CHAPTER  I. 

"  Q  TAND  firm  !     Face  the  bullets  ! "    With  these  words, 

Vv3  Ernst  had  encouraged  his  men  to  the  last.  My  own 
experience  illustrated  them. 

For  a  considerable  time,  I  did  not  know  what  had  hap 
pened,  either  to  me  or  to  those  about  me.  I  only  knew 
that  I  lay  behind  a  white  curtain  with  blue  flowers,  and 
could  not  keep  my  eyes  open  for  any  length  of  time.  The 
flowers  assumed  all  sorts  of  odd  shapes,  and  the  fantastic 
figures  seemed  to  be  ever  changing  and  rushing  towards 
me. 

I  think  I  was  not  really  sick,  only  inexpressibly  weak ; 
and  the  fatigue  and  exhaustion  prevented  me  from  directing 
my  thoughts  at  will.  I  was  childishly  grateful  for  everything. 
I  looked  at  the  wood  in  the  door  and  rejoiced  that  it  was 
firm ;  I  heard  the  fire  in  the  stove  and  was  delighted  that  it 
warmed  me ;  I  was  grateful  to  the  bed  that  supported  me, 
so  that  I  did  not  need  to  do  it  myself. 

I  remember  that  Bertha  and  Annette  would  occasionally 
visit  me ;  but  my  grandson  Wolfgang  stayed  with  me  nearly 
all  the  time.  Through  the  hardships  of  war  and  constant 
exposure,  Wolfgang  had  almost  ripened  into  manhood.  He 


462  '  WALDFRIED. 

had  become  stronger  and  stouter  than  of  old,  and  his  voice 
was  now  more  manly. 

"  I  am  so  glad,  grandfather,  to  hear  you  call  me  by  my 
own  name  again ;  you  always  used  to  call  me  Ernst,"  said 
Wolfgang  one  day,  and  from  that  hour  I  felt  that  the  heavy 
clouds  were  slowly  clearing  away ;  and  when  they  had  disap- 
peared, I  saw  everything  around  me  distinctly,  and  by 
degrees  I  remembered  what  had  happened. 

"  Is  Ernst— buried  ?" 

"Yes,  grandfather." 

I  no\v  asked  Wolfgang  to  inform  me  what  had  occurred 
while  I  was  unconscious,  and  what  had  become  of  Martella 

"  Grandfather,"  said  Wolfgang,  "  I  must  tell  you  the  truth. 
Martella  is  no  longer  separated  from  Ernst.  She  has 
reached  the  goal." 

I  felt  as  if  the  clouds  were  again  gathering  before  my 
eyes,  but,  through  the  mists,  I  met  Gustava's  lustrous  eyes, 
saying,  "  She  was  true  till  death." 

Wolfgang  took  my  hand  in  his,  and  the  youth's  firm  grasp 
gave  me  renewed  strength.  I  begged  him  to  tell  me  all, 
and  he  began : 

"  We  brought  you  down  to  Aunt  Annette,  who,  forebod- 
ing evil,  had  met  us  half-way.  It  then  suddenly  occurred  to 
us  that  in  our  dreadful  excitement  and  anxiety  about  you, 
no  one  had  taken  care  of  Martella,  and  that  she  had  not 
followed  us.  Rothfuss  said  he  was  completely  worn  out, 
and  must  stay  with  his  master.  Ikwarte  has  nerves  and 
muscles  of  steel.  I  felt  as  if  my  eyes  burnt  in  their  sockets ; 
never  before  had  I  been  so  tired;  but  I  returned  with  him, 
nevertheless,  to  the  battle-field,  half  dead  with  sleep  and 
fatigue."  Wolfgang  shivered,  stopped  awhile,  and  then  con- 
tinued :  "We  knew  the  place  where  Ernst  lay,  and  soon 
found  him.  The  moon  lit  up  his  face  wonderfully.  Beside 


WALDFRIED.  463 

him  lay  Martella,  motionless ;  she  clung  to  him  in  a  close 
embrace,  cheek  to  cheek,  hand  in  hand.  Is  she  dead,  too  ? 
It  were  best !  I  bent  down  to  her ;  she  breathed  heavily. 
I  called  her  name.  Ho\v  she  stared  at  me  wildly  and 
vacantly!  Then  she  motioned  us  to  be  quiet,  and  whis- 
pered, '  He  will  soon  be  warm  again  ;  soon,  very  soon.'  I 
tried  to  persuade  her  to  follow  us ;  she  answered,  '  O  Wolf- 
gang !  you  are  so  good  ;  bring  some  wild  honey.  Oh,  wait, 
Ernst !  your  nephew  is  coming  with  wild  honey,  and  here  1 
have  your  cup,  your  hunting  cup.'  I  tried  to  persuade  her, 
and  she  answered,  ' Oh,  you  have  mother's  voice.  Mother, 
tell  him,  oh,  tell  him  to  rise  again.'  She  threw  herself  beside 
the  corpse,  and  when  I  cried,  *  Martella,  get  up ;  come  with 
us,'  she  answered,  '  You  see  he  cannot  move  now,  but  I  will 
follow  you  ;  you  have  my  mother's  voice.'  She  did  not  then 
seem  to  remember  the  dead.  She  went  with  me  and  let  me 
lead  her  by  the  hand ;  but  suddenly  she  tore  away  and  re- 
turned, crying,  'They  leave  him  lying  alone  on  the  cold 
giound,  in  the  dark  night.' 

"  She  broke  down.  We  tried  to  administer  some  restora- 
tive, but  her  mouth  was  firmly  closed,  and  her  breast  was 
heaving  violently.  At  last  Ikwarte  succeeded  in  administer- 
ing the  draught.  We  brought  her  to  a  ruined  house  in  the 
vicinity.  The  doors  had  all  been  taken  off — I  had  helped 
at  the  work  myself;  they  had  done  service  as  litters. 

"  We  placed  Martella  on  a  seat  by  the  hearth,  and  I  succeed- 
ed in  gathering  some  wood  and  starting  a  fire.  '  Oh,  how  good  ! 
Oh,  how  warm  ! '  said  she  to  the  flickering  flames.  Her 
teeth  chattered.  We  hoped  that,  after  she  was  well  warmed, 
she  would  be  able  to  go  farther  with  us.  She  sat  there 
quietly,  her  elbows  resting  on  her  knees,  her  face  covered 
with  both  her  hands. 

"  'Wolfgang,  keep  me  with  you,'  she  said  suddenly.     'Be 


464  WALDFR1ED. 

good  to  me ;  you  are  his  brother's  child ;  keep  me  with  you—- 
do not  leave  me.  Tell  me  how  many  years  it  is  since  he 
died?  O  Ernst,  you  are  so  happy  that  I  cannot  weep. 
Why  are  you  glad  ?  Oh,  if  I  could  but  weep  !  You  have 
been  away  so  long,  and  why  do  you  not  return  ?  What 
shall  I  do  in  this  world  without  you !  Mother,  Ernst  is 
with  you ;  you  do  not  need  him ;  send  him  to  me — he  1*3 
mine.  I  have  nothing  more  in  this  world.  My  dog  is  dead, 
too.  My  little  red  stockings — oh,  I  was  so  happy.  Mar- 
tella  is  lost.  Hunt  for  her  in  the  woods  where  the  wild 
honey  grows.  Do  you  hear  the  cuckoo  ?  Cuckoo  ! ' 

"  She  stared  vacantly  into  the  flames ;  then  she  cried  :  '  My 
eyes  burn  like  fire  !  I  cannot  weep.  O  Ernst !  Ernst ! ' 

"  She  tore  the  satchel  from  her  girdle,  tore  the  letter  of 
pardon  into  fragments,  and  cried :  '  Everything  shall  burn 
just  as  my  eyes  do.  Come  here,  your  Highness,  and  see 
how  your  handwriting  burns.' 

"  Dawn  was  breaking.  Through  the  open  door,  we  saw 
some  men  approaching  with  a  litter. 

"'Here  is  Herr  Rautenkron,'  said  Ikwarte.  Martella 
rushed  out  and  saw  the  men  carrying  Ernsf  s  body.  She 
rushed  towards  them,  sank  beside  the  litter  and  cried  :  '  My 
Ernst !  You  are  not  dead  ! ' 

"  A  fearful  shriek,  which  rang  out  far  over  the  barren  fields, 
was  forced  from  her  tortured  breast.  She  clasped  her  hand 
to  her  heart  while  a  flood  of  tears  streamed  over  her  cheeks. 
Suddenly  she  broke  down  and  sank  on  the  body  of  Ernst. 
A  physican,  who  had  come  with  the  men,  laid  his  hand  on 
her  heart.  It  was  still :  he  listened  for  her  breathing ;  it  had 
ceased. 

"'My  child!  my  child!'  cried  Rautenkron;  she  heard 
nothing  more." 


WALDFRIED.  465 

So  ended  Wolfgang's  story.  His  firm  hand  clasped  mine, 
and  I  felt  as  if  that  alone  held  me  there  among  the  living. 

"And  what  became  of  Rautenkron?"  I  was  able  to  ask 
after  a  long  interval. 

"  He  had  suddenly  become  an  old  man,  with  hollow 
cheeks  and  lustreless  eyes.  He  sat  on  the  ground,  stared  at 
the  corpse,  and  did  not  speak  a  word.  It  rained  in  torrents. 
Every  one  endeavored  to  induce  Rautenkron  to  seek  the 
shelter  o/  the  hut,  but  he  did  not  answer.  At  last  he  arose, 
pulled  the  hood  of  his  cloak  over  his  head,  lit  a  cigar,  and 
said  to  me,  '  Stay  here  ;  I  shall  come  back  presently.'  After 
a  while,  he  returned  with  axe  and  spade.  Alone,  he  dug  the 
grave  in  which  Ernst  and  Martella  were  laid." 

Wolfgang  paused,  and  I  remembered  the  sacred  verses 
from  the  lament  of  David  for  Jonathan  : 

"In  death  they  were  not  divided." 

"  Where  is  Rautenkron  ?  "  I  asked  at  last. 

"  When  the  grave  was  filled  up,  he  disappeared.  Later,  we 
learned  his  fate.  You  remember  that  our  men  had  taken  the 
city  near  by  and  occupied  it;  but  the  French  had  so 
strengthened  the  castle  which  commanded  it,  that  it  seemed 
impossible  to  drive  them  out.  Rautenkron  volunteered  to 
discover  the  mines  which  doubtless  were  under  it.  No 
one  knows  how  he  gained  an  entrance,  but  on  the  following 
day  the  powder-magazines  in  the  cellars  of  the  castle  ex- 
ploded and  destroyed  part  of  the  castle,  which  was  then 
stormed.  Great  numbers  of  the  enemy  were  killed.  Careful 
search  was  made  for  Rantenkron,  but  no  trace  of  him  was 
discovered,  and  as,  up  to  this  time,  nothing  has  been  heard 
of  him,  it  seems  sure  that  he  was  buried  beneath  the  ruins." 
30 


CHAPTER  II. 

BERTHA  informed  me  that  the  Colonel  was  out  of 
danger,  and  was  staying  in  the  city  during  his  conva- 
lescence. The  physician  thought  he  would  be  able  to  lead 
his  regiment  within  a  few  weeks.  The  old  spinner  had  re- 
turned homewards  with  Carl.  He  had  been  taken  to  the 
hospital  of  our  capital. 

"And  Anton,  of  the  saw-mill — is  he  dead?" 

"  Father,  I  am  telling  you  the  whole  truth ;  but  I  beg  of 
you,  do  not  seek  to  learn  all  these  things  to-day.  Take 
care  of  yourself,  for  our  sakes." 

I  was  soon  again  able  to  be  up,  and  Bertha  could  not 
say  enough  in  praise  of  the  kindness  and  sympathy  of  the 
French  people,  in  whose  house  I  lay. 

The  housewife  now  wanted  to  speak  to  me,  too. 

She  came,  and  was  quite  delighted  to  receive  my  heart- 
felt thanks. 

A  few  days  later,  I  was  permitted  to  visit  the  Colonel, 
and  the  first  words  he  uttered  were,  "  Bertha,  now  I  firmly 
believe  in  my  recovery.  You  wear  your  hair  in  curls  again." 

He  informed  me  that  he  had  considered  it  an  ill  omen, 
when  Bertha  had  worn  her  hair  plain.  Now  that  he  was  out 
of  danger,  the  curls  and  happiness  were  back  again. 

Then  he  recounted  everything,  from  the  first  moment 
of  his  being  wounded,  when  he  seemed  to  realize  what 
death  is.  It  seemed  like  a  stroke  of  lightning ;  then  all 
was  night  and  utter  darkness.  His  adjutant  stepped  to 
his  couch,  grasped  his  hand,  kissed  it,  and  wept  over  it 
He  felt  the  kisses  and  the  tears,  but  was  unable  to  give  a 


WALDFRIED. 


467 


sign  of  consciousness,  either  by  a  pressure  of  the  hand  or  by  a 
word ;  within  him,  all  was  life,  like  a  subterranean  stream. 

I  did  not  long  have  have  the  pleasure  of  listening  to  the 
reminiscences  of  the  convalescent  Colonel.  I  longed  to  re- 
turn h&me.  When  the  next  train  started  for  Germany, 
it  was  in  charge  of  Professor  Rolunt,  who  had  nursed  the 
Colonel  like  a  brother ;  they  yielded  to  my  entreaties,  and, 
in  a  well-heated  car,  I  journeyed  homewards. 

Wolfgang  accompanied  me  to  the  State  capital,  and  then, 
in  company  with  Christiane,  returned  with  a  load  of  medi- 
cines and  delicacies  to  the  theatre  of  war. 

I  felt  as  if  I  could  not  get  thoroughly  well  again  except  at 
home,  and  so  it  proved.  When  I  inhaled  the  air  of  our  forest- 
covered  mountains,  it  gave  me  new  life. 

The  Privy  Councillor's  wife  insisted  on  my  resting  at  her 
house  for  a  few  days,  and  by  the  careful  nursing  of  our  physi- 
cian as  well  as  his  confident  manner,  which  of  itself  was  a 
remedy,  I  soon  gained  fresh  vigor.  It  did  me  good  to  hear 
Lady  Von  Rontheim  entwine  the  memories  of  our  fallen  sons. 
She  informed  me,  briefly  and  clearly,  of  what  had  happened 
during  my  illness ;  for  now,  when  I  could  again  read  and  un- 
derstand the  papers,  I  noticed  many  lapses  in  my  knowledge 
of  events. 

While  I  was  living  in  the  little  town,  Ludwig  came.  I 
did  not  comprehend  how  I  could  have  omitted  to  inquire 
about  him ;  and  now  he  brought  with  him  a  refreshing 
breeze  from  another  hemisphere.  As  he  had  previously  in- 
formed me  by  letter,  he  had  journeyed  to  England  and  then 
to  America,  to  prevent  shipments  of  arms  for  the  French. 
He  had  not  had  much  success,  although  he  offered,  through 
the  newspapers,  a  large  reward  for  any  information  regarding 
such  shipments. 

I  feJt  pained  when  he  said,  "We  Germans  have  no  friends 


468 


WALDFRIED. 


abroad,  because  we  have  not  hitherto  presented  to  the  world 
an  imposing  front.  During  the  last  half-century,  the  Ger- 
man nation  was  like  a  man  who  has  the  consciousness  of 
honest  intentions,  and  who  counts  on  the  recognition  of 
them  by  others.  But  neither  an  individual  nor  a  people  ob- 
tains recognition  gratuitously.  They  must  wrest  it  from  the 
world ;  and  the  best  and  the  easiest  way  is  not  to  wait  for  it, 
but  to  put  your  shoulder  to  the  wheel.  Now  the  nations 
speak  in  another  key ;  but  they  would  all  have  rejoiced  if 
the  brilliant  Frenchman  had  overpowered  us." 

This  pained  me,  and  I  did  not  wish  to  believe  it.  Ludwig 
proved  to  me  that,  in  England  and  America,  some  of  the 
more  far-sighted  favored  our  cause,  and  that  the  governments 
could  have  easily  prevented  the  shipment  of  arms  and  much 
useless  carnage,  had  they  seriously  desired  it.  He  considered 
it  infinitely  better  that  we  did  not  need  to  ask,  as  we 
had  hitherto  done,  "What  do  other  nations  think  of  us? 
How  are  they  inclined  towards  us?"  but  that  in  future 
others  would  have  to  ask,  "  What  do  the  Germans  think  of 
us  ?  How  are  they  inclined  ?  "  Ludwig,  while  abroad,  had, 
with  delight,  perceived  the  general  curiosity  and  amazement, 
in  regard  to  the  newly  discovered  wonder-land — Germany. 
He  declared  that  we  had  no  idea  of  the  effect  our  wonder- 
ful achievements  had  had  upon  the  people  of  all  lands.  He 
had  everywhere  announced  the  German  Emperor,  before  he 
even  was  proclaimed  at  home. 

We  at  home  scarcely  know  how  much  we  have  gained  in 
the  esteem  of  others,  and  how  gigantically  our  future  looms 
up  before  the  eyes  of  astonished  mankind.  They  see  a 
thousand  different  effects  flow  from  this  new  birth ;  and  I 
believe  they  are  in  the  right. 

Conny  came  to  town,  and,  with  her  and  Ludwig,  I  returned 
home. 


CHAPTER  III. 

WHEN  I  rode  along  the  forest  road,  I  saw  Gaudens 
at  his  work.  He  wore  a  soldier-cap,  and  whis- 
tled "  Die  VVacht  am  Rhein,"  while  clearing  up  the  ditch 
beside  the  footpath. 

The  valley  stream  was  frozen  tight,  the  trees  were  heavily 
laden  with  snow.  Ludwig  reported  that  he  had  purchased 
machines  in  America  and  England  for  our  mill.  With 
the  aid  of  these,  the  winter  would,  in  future,  not  prevent 
operations.  Finished  work  could  be  set  up,  except  when 
the  orders  were  to  ship  the  articles  in  separate  parts.  It 
seemed  as  if  he  contemplated  remaining  with  us,  as  he 
had  settled  up  much  of  his  business  in  America.  Be- 
sides, on  his  way  home,  he  had  taken  some  large  con- 
tracts from  building  associations.  When  I  expressed 
surprise  at  the  varied  fields  of  his  activity,  he  said, 
"  Father,  I  have  remembered  this  from  what  I  have  learned 
of  music ;  you  may  play  a  different  air  with  each  hand,  and 
still  both  must  be  in  harmony.  My  right  hand  plays  the 
melody  '  personal  advantage,'  my  left,  the  melody  '  public 
weal;'  sometimes  they  change  about,  too.  I  have  built 
water- works,  that  were  for  the  good  of  many ;  but  they  were 
good  for  me,  too,  and  I  do  not  think  that  without  this  I 
would  have  built  them  so  cheerfully.  Just  now  a  great 
mania  for  building  prevails  among  the  people,  and  we 
shall  be  able  to  give  employment  to  many  good  laborers 
who  have  been  driven  out  of  France." 

We  came  to  the  saw-mill  near  the  bridge.     Here,  on  the 


47O  WALDFRIED. 

same  day  that  the  news  arrived  of  Anton's  death,  a  workman 
had  lost  three  of  his  ringers  by  the  circular  saw.  Ludwig 
went  to  the  man  and  engaged  him  as  sorter  of  the  different 
kinds  of  timber. 

The  saw-mill  was  stopped,  and  all  the  shutters  were  closed. 
Here  we  met  Joseph,  who  informed  us  that  since  the  death 
of  his  son,  the  owner  of  the  mill  had  lost  all  energy  and 
pleasure  in  his  business.  He  had  removed  to  a  daughter  of 
his  in  the  opposite  valley,  and  wanted  to  sell  the  property. 
"  You  must  buy  this,  and  work  for  us,"  cried  Ludwig. 

Joseph  answered  sadly  that  he  could  not ;  he  said  he  was 
in  danger  of  losing  everything.  He  had  invested  almost  his 
entire  property  in  wood  in  the  Hagenau  forest,  and  if 
Bourbaki  and  his  army  should  force  their  way  through,  all 
would  be  lost  over  there  as  well  as  here. 

These  were  certainly  very  gloomy  prospects,  and  we 
could  not  get  any  comfort  at  home  ;  we  daily  expected  the 
advance  of  Bourbaki' s  army,  and  it  was  said  that  prepara- 
tions were  being  made  to  lay  the  whole  country  waste. 

My  sister  wrote  that  in  Alsace  it  was  the  general  belief 
that  there  would  now  be  a  change.  Bourbaki  would  strike 
down  Germany.  Her  husband  had  hung  up  the  pictures  and 
epaulettes  again  ;  but  with  this  proviso,  that  if  the  French 
would  not  deliver  them  this  time,  he  would  have  nothing 
further  to  do  with  them,  and  would  become  a  forester  in 
Germany. 

Bertha  had  returned  to  the  capital,  and  wrote  that  the 
Colonel,  with  whom  Rothfuss  had  remained,  was  again  at 
the  head  of  his  regiment  in  the  division  that  opposed  Bour- 
baki's  advance  towards  the  Rhine. 

At  home,  I  found  another  cause  for  deep  emotion  ;  it 
was  a  letter  for  me  from  Ernst.  It  had  been  forwarded  from 
the  field  by  the  army  post.  The  paper  showed  the  traces  of 


WALD FRIED.  47! 

many  tears.  I  was  so  much  overcome,  every  time  I  read  the 
letter,  that  my  children  took  it  away  from  me ;  but  I  asked 
them  to  return  it,  and  here  it  is : 

"  DEAR  FATHER  AND  MOTHER  : — See  me  prostrate  at 
your  feet ;  what  I  desired  to  do  a  thousand  times,  and  again 
and  again  postponed,  I  must  now  finish. 

"  I  know  that,  both  for  you  and  for  me,  my  deeds  have 
filled  many  days  and  nights — nay,  whole  years — with  sadness. 
I  cannot  express  in  words  what  I  have  thought  and  felt  while  on 
the  march  in  the  hot  sun,  or  at  night  when  I  looked  up  to  the 
stars  that  shone  also  on  my  paternal  home.  And,  oh  !  how, 
when  on  the  march  and  parched  with  thirst,  I  longed  for 
a  drop  of  water  from  our  fountain.  I  write  with  burn- 
ing tears,  but  they  cannot  blot  out  the  past,  nor  recall 
a  single  wasted  hour.  Lost !  lost !  I  repent,  I  suffer 
deeply.  You  often  told  me,  mother,  *  You  must  curb 
four  spirit.'  I  could  not  succeed  in  my  peaceful  home,  al- 
though I  had  so  many  to  help  me — you,  father,  Martella,  my 
brothers  and  sisters.  From  afar,  the  sound  of  ardent  prayer 
s\vells  into  an  eager  wail  for  redemption.  I  have  wasted  ail. 
Am  I  a  sacrifice  to  my  country's  misery?  And  now  comes 
the  most  dreadful  consequence  of  my  misdeeds.  We  have 
received  orders  to  take  ship  to  fight  against  Germany.  No, 
not  against  Germany.  The  old  misery  is  here  again  with  re- 
doubled force.  An  officer  has  confided  to  me,  that  several 
of  the  lesser  German  states  had  called  upon  France  to  re- 
lease them  from  the  tyranny  of  Prussia. 

"  I  had  loaded  my  gun  and  pointed  it  at  my  head,  but, 
thinking  of  you,  I  fired  into  the  air. 

4 'Is  it  my  guilt,  or  am  I  but  a  drop  in  the  stream  that 
overflows  its  bed  ? 

"  O  my  parents !     He  who  leaves  his  country  is  suspended 


472 


WALDFRIED. 


in  mid-air,  and  has  no  ground  to  stand  upon.  It  is  well 
that  the  end  is  near ;  but  I  wish  you  to  know  that  my  soul 
is  with  you  at  home.  At  this  moment,  I  feel  your  hands 
on  my  head,  blessing  me. 

"  May  Martella  remain  forever  true  !  I  can  say  nothing  to 
her.  Oh,  Richard  was  in  the  right.  How  dared  I,  who  was 
nothing  for  myself,  bind  another  life  to  mine  ? 

"  I  thank  you  a  thousand  times  for  all  the  kindness,  all  the 
love  you  bestowed  upon  me  who  am  unworthy  of  it,  and 
upon  Martella  who  deserves  it. 

"I  beg  forgiveness  of  my  brothers  and  sisters  for  the 
wrongs  I  have  done  them. 

"  Do  not  mourn  for  me  ;  I  shall  find  the  way  to  atonement. 
Console  and  comfort  yourselves  with  the  thought  of  one 
who  will  remember  you  till  death. 

"  ERNST." 


CHAPTER  IV. 

"TT|*ATHER,  I  did  not  hitherto  wish  to  speak  of  it,  but 

i      now  I  must  tell  you,"  said  Ludwig,  one  day. 

"For  God's  sake,  what  can  have  happened?" 

"  Nothing  bad,  quite  the  contrary ;  I  am  resolved  to  re- 
main here.  I  did  not  wish  to  tell  you  until  peace  was 
restored,  but  I  think  that  this  is  the  time  when  the  news  will 
do  you  most  good." 

I  deemed  it  my  duty  to  advise  him  to  delay  before  mak- 
ing up  his  mind,  but  he  replied,  "  I  have  considered  every- 
thing. Whatever  a  man  may  achieve  in  this  world,  be  it 
ever  so  great  or  important,  if  he  has  not  done  his  whole 
duty  to  his  parents,  all  else  is  vain.  I  remain  with  you,  and 
to  public  duties  I  will  devote  as  much  of  my  life  as  can  be 
spared  from  you." 

Thus  spoke  my  son,  whose  roving  life  in  America  we 
thought  had  made  him  harsh  and  cold. 

I  inquired  whether  he  had  already  consulted  his  wife. 
He  replied  that  there  was  no  doubt  of  her  consent,  because 
she  would  simply  and  gladly  consent  as  soon  as  he  should 
tell  her  that  it  was  for  the  best. 

Conny  at  once  consented.  She  mentioned  that  her 
father  had  always  prophesied  that  she  would  some  time  re- 
turn to  Europe.  She  now  felt  particularly  happy,  because, 
if  it  should  turn  out  that  a  German  confederation  with  an 
emperor  at  its  head  would  be  established,  the  ideal  of  her 
father's  life,  and  for  the  sake  of  which  he  went  into  exile, 
would  be  realized. 


474 


WALDFRIED. 


While  our  eyes  were  wandering  from  the  the  warlike  past 
to  a  peaceful  future,  we  were  thrilled  over  and  over  again  by 
the  thought  that  our  army  stood  like  a  gigantic  wall  in  the 
path  of  the  advancing  Bourbaki. 

Ludwig  told  me  that,  in  connection  with  some  friends,  he 
intended  to  start  a  new  building  association  for  the  public 
benefit.  He  had  found  the  starting  point  with  some  former 
friends  from  the  gymnasium.  Their  object  was  to  locate 
some  grand  industrial  establishments  in  the  country,  in 
order  to  avert  the  threatened  overcrowding  of  the  large  cities, 
by  giving  profitable  employment  to  the  dwellers  in  the  rurai 
districts.  He  intended  to  transfer  his  mill  to  the  company, 
and  also  to  enlarge  it. 

Martha,  who  had  remained  with  her  mother  in  the  city, 
sent  us  a  letter  from  Julius.  He  wrote  about  the  great  sor- 
tie from  Paris,  and  what  heavy  sacrifices  it  had  cost  us.  He 
was  very  happy  to  have  been  able  to  give  proofs  of  his  valor, 
and  he  had  received  the  Iron  Cross  of  the  first  class  on  the 
field  of  battle. 

Madam  Von  Rontheim  begged  me  to  hold  myself  in 
readiness  to  return  to  the  city  within  a  few  days. 

It  was  towards  evening  when  the  sounds  of  great  rejoicing 
were  heard  in  the  village.  All  flocked  together,  and  we 
heard  loud  cries,  "  Rothfuss  is  here  again  ! "  Rothfuss  came 
with  two  horses  harnessed  to  his  vehicle,  and  two  following  in 
the  rear. 

"I  bring  four  captured  Frenchmen,"  he  cried  :  "I  have 
bought  them  honestly.  Of  course  I  paid  only  for  their 
hides.  They  are  not  much  more  than  skin  and  bone  any- 
way, but  in  a  week  I  shall  feed  four  new  horses  into  their 
skins.  When  they  taste  the  fodder  from  our  mountain  for- 
ests, they  will  think,  '  What  a  fine  country  Germany  is  ;  there 
they  feed  horses  on  sweet  herbs.'  " 


WALDFRIED. 


475 


Rothfuss  also  brought  the  great  news  that  our  German 
troops  had  pushed  Bourbaki  and  his  men  to  the  wall ;  just  as 
might  have  been  done  in  a  tavern  fight. 

We  did  not  quite  understand  what  he  really  meant.  Then 
Joseph  brought  the  newspaper.  Alsace  was  free ;  and  his 
joy  over  the  victory  was  enhanced  by  the  certainty  that  his 
timber  in  the  Hagenau  forest  was  now  all  safe. 

We  read  about  the  three  days'  battle  before  Belfort ;  and 
as  long  as  valor  and  endurance  are  remembered,  history  will 
have  a  glorious  page  to  unfold  there. 

My  daughter  Johanna  came  down  to  enjoy  a  few  days' 
rest  with  us.  In  spite  of  the  great  hardships  she  had  under- 
gone, she  had  become  stronger,  and  looked  more  cheerful. 
She  wanted  to  deliver  her  good  news  in  person.  Her 
daughter  had  become  engaged  to  a  man  who  had  lost  his 
right  arm.  Christiane  had  nursed  him  faithfully,  and  fallen 
in  love  with  him,  and  Johanna  is  right  in  saying,  "  She  will 
always  love  him  the  more  because  of  her  having  to  take 
care  of  him  ;  she  is  just  the  wife  for  an  invalid." 

On  the  very  next  day,  we  had  a  triumphal  entry  in  our 
village.  Carl- was  well  again,  but  carried  his  left  arm  in  a 
sling.  Rothfuss  harnessed  his  four  "Bourbakis"  (they  were 
lean  as  yet,  but  lively)  and  drove  Carl  and  his  mother,  four- 
in-hand.  Down  at  the  saw-mill,  Marie  mounted  beside 
Carl  and  rode  along  into  the  village. 

Rothfuss  stopped  before  the  house  of  the  meadow- 
farmer.  Nobody  was  to  be  seen  there,  but  all  cried, 
"  Hurrah  for  the  meadow-farmer  !  " 

"  You  must  say  the  old  farmer,"  commanded  Rothfuss, 
"because  Carl  is  now  the  young  meadow  farmer.  Come 
out,  old  fellow ;  Napoleon  had  to  abdicate,  too.  Give 
up  your  flail  to  Carl,  the  conqueror." 

At  last  the  door  opened.    The  old  meadow  farmer  came 


476  WALDFRIED. 

out  and  welcomed  Carl.  It  seemed  as  if  the  cheering  would 
never  end.  Carl  becomes  the  meadow  farmer  !  After  this 
everything  is  possible. 

"  Have  you  any  news  of  my  faithful  nurse,  the  Captain's 
wife  ?  "  asked  .Carl,  when  he  entered  our  room  ;  and  the  old 
woman,  who  had  not  heard  a  word,  also  asked,  "  How  is  the 
worthy  lady  ?  " 

Just  then,  as  it  happened,  a  letter  arrived  from  her. 


CHAPTER  V. 
A   NNETTE  wrote  : 


"  What  happiness  it  is  to  write  to  you  !  This  is  the  first 
time  that  I  address  you  as  your  real  and  true  daughter.  Do 
you  remember  how  ill  you  took  it  when  I  once  called  you 
Patriarch?  You  were  right,  because  bandying  sharp 
speeches  was  a  great  fault  of  mine.  Too  much  of  the 
intellectual  was  my  misfortune  and  that  of  all  of  us. 
Now  I  am  nothing  but  a  quiet  ant,  crawling  up  a  tree 
and  bearing  my  tiny  mite;  to  be  one  ant  amongst  a 
thousand  is  now  my  only  ambition.  I  do  not  wish  to  be 
anything  for  myself.  I  must  give  you  an  extract  from 
Richard's  lettei.  What  is  dearest  and  most  beautiful  in 
it,  I  cannot,  of  course,  repeat  to  you.  He  writes  : 

"  *  Hitherto,  our  happiness  consisted  in  the  general  belief 
that  every  one  was  a  nobody,  unless  he  was  something 
quite  apart,  because  the  people  as  a  whole  were  held  in  but 
little  esteem.  Germany  was  like  the  educated  Jew,  who  is 
always  intent  on  hearing  from  others,  "  How  do  they  regard 
me  ?  "  "  What  do  they  think  of  me  ?  "  You  yourself,'  —  but 
here  he  begins  praising  me  —  enough  of  that. 

"  '  It  gave  me  great  pleasure  to  have  Johanna  with  us  in  the 
hospital  for  a  few  days,  which  enabled  us,  by  working  to- 
gether, to  gain  a  better  appreciation  of  each  other.  She  has 
gathered  experience  and  insight  from  other  sources  than  my- 
self, and  she  insists  that  nature  is  better  than  what  we  call 
principle.  We  can  afford  to  let  the  latter  pass,  here  and 


478  WALDFRIED. 

there.  She  acknowledges  that  unbelievers,  as  she  calls  us, 
are  capable  of  virtuous  actions.  This  war  has  taught  all  of 
us  not  to  ask  for  dogmas,  but  for  deeds. 

"  '  I  am  scarcely  able  to-day,  to  write  a  letter  in  my  own 
name.  It  was  general  mail-day,  and  I  sat  for  hours  at  the 
bedside  of  the  sick,  writing  word  for  word  as  they  dictated. 
I  am  glad  to  have  learnt  enough  French  to  be  able  to  write 
for  the  officer  whom  you  may  remember.  How  manifold 
are  the  relations  of  life  with  which  I  have  become  familiar- 
ized !  There  is  much  wonderful  beauty  hidden  in  the  world, 
and  every  people  and  every  station  in  life  has  its  share. 

"  '  I  had  to  add  postscripts  to  two  letters  announcing  the 
death  of  those  in  whose  name  they  were  written.  One  was 
the  son  of  honored  parents,  and  the  other  was  himself  the 
head  of  a  family,  and  leaves  four  children. 

"  '  Midnight. — I  could  not  write  further.  Now  all  is 
hushed  ;  and  I  do  not  wish  to  sleep  before  fulfilling  my  duty 
towards  you.  I  find  it  hateful,  when  in  full  health,  to  say, 
"  I  cannot,"  and,  therefore,  continue  writing.  I  feel  as  if 
mother  were  sitting  beside  me  and  saying,  "Tell  my  husband 
everything.  The  best  remedy  against  fear  is  to  know  the 
whole  truth."  But  I  must  inform  y9u  about  Martella. 

"  '  The  next  day. — Last  night,  while  I  was  writing  the  last 
sentence,  Wolfgang  came.  He  informed  me  that  he  had 
told  you  all.  I  may  then  speak  of  ourselves  again.' 

"  Richard  has  written  me  :  *  Remember  that  you  once  told 
me  you  would  go  through  the  wide  world  with  me.  That 
may  now  come  to  pass.  Through  varied  labors  which 
have  given  entire  satisfaction,  I  have  received  an  offer  of 
employment  in  the  foreign  service,  and  it  may  happen  that 
we  shall  have  to  begin  our  married  life  in  the  new  world.  I 
leave  my  quiet  study,  or  rather  I  shall  not  return  to  it.  I 
may  be  able  to  influence  the  living  present,  and  you,  my 


WALDFRIED. 

good  and  lovely  wife,  shall  win  admiration  and  respect  in 
the  highest  circles.  I  am  proud  to  place  you  in  life's  highest 
stations,  and  for  this  reason  I  joyfully  surrender  my  solitary, 
peaceful  studies  and  long-cherished  plans  of  scientific  invest! 
gation.' 

"  How  I  replied  to  Richard  you  will  see  by  these  lines, 
which  I  copy  for  you  without  conventional  modesty ;  they 
are  from  a  second  letter,  in  answer  to  mine : 

"  '  A  thousand  times,  I  kiss  your  hands  and  press  you  to 
my  heart.  You  are  my  good  genius.  Pardon  every  un- 
pleasant thought  which,  in  the  erring  past,  I  may  have 
harbored  against  you.  Even  then,  despite  myself,  my 
mother  knew  you  better  than  I  did  ;  her  blessing  rests  upon 
your  head.  You  have  liberated  me  and  brought  me  back  to 
myself ;  I  receive  all  willingly  from  your  hands. 

"  *  How  clever  and  how  pointed  are  your  accounts  of  the 
nothings  of  diplomatic  life  which  you  noticed  in  Paris  at  the 
house  of  your  sister-in-law,  the  wife  of  our  ambassador. 

"  '  Pardon  me  that  I  was  just  a  little  jealous  of  the  title  of 
nobility,  and  that  I  thought  you  might  regret  having  to 
change  it  for  a  plain  civilian  name.  I  thank  you  for  scolding 
me  so  merrily  about  it ;  but  I  reproach  myself  very  seriously 
that  I  could  entertain  such  a  thought  for  a  single  instant. 

"  '  How  much  you  are  in  the  right !  I  dare  not  abandon  my 
innermost  convictions.  Your  Christian  admonition  has  gone 
right  to  my  heart :  yes,  I  would  have  been  doing  violence  to 
my  soul. 

" '  Now  all  is  bright  and  free  within  and  around  me.  It  is 
settled.  I  shall  keep  on  the  straight  line  marked  out  for  me ; 
I  am  born  and  bred  a  man  of  letters.  You  see  clearly  what 
I  could  not  confess  to  you  or  myself.  For  your  sake  the 
glitter  of  life  allured,  and  attracted  me.  I  fondly  im- 


480  WALDFRIED. 

agined  your  queenly  form  moving  among  those  the  world  call 
noblest;  but  you,  my  lovely  wife,  are  greater,  purer,  and 
freer  than  I  am.  You  do  not  wish  to  shine ;  you  will  live 
for  me,  and  I  am  to  live  for  my  ideal.  It  is  decided ;  I  am 
fortified  against  all  temptation.  I  shall  remain  true  to  my 
calling,  to  you,  and  to  myself.' 

"  I  have  told  you  all.  I  hope  the  time  is  not  far  off  when 
this  horrible  war,  this  killing  and  dying,  will  be  but  as  a 
shadowy  dream  in  our  memories.  There  must  be  peace  at 
last,  and  peace  will  bring  home  to  you 

"  Your  happy  daughter, 

"ANNETTE." 


CHAPTER  VI. 

HE  very  same  day,  a  messenger  arrived  from  the  Coun- 
Ciller's  wife,  to  call  me,  and  I  drove  to  the  city  with 
Joseph  and  Ludwig.  From  afar,  we  heard  the  booming  of 
cannon,  and  at  the  new  saw-mill  the  lumber  merchant 
Scrnvarzenberg,  an  ever-faithful  patriot,  told  me  :  "  We  have 
an  Emperor  ;  he  has  been  proclaimed  at  Versailles."  This 
was  as  it  should  be.  Our  great  achievements  in  war  were 
consecrated  by  the  establishment  of  the  German  Empire. 

Ludwig  was  dissatisfied  because  the  celebration  was  held 
on  a  Prussian  anniversary.  He  had  to  acknowledge,  how- 
ever, that  the  history  of  Prussia  now  glided  into  that  of 
Germany,'  and  that  it  was  not  improper  thus  to  exalt  a  family 
festival. 

O  fortunate  posterity  !  you  can  never  know  or  appreciate 
our  feelings  during  those  days.  We  had  long  cherished  these 
aspirations  for  our  country,  for  a  United  Germany  ;  the  less 
we  could  hope  for  their  realization,  the  deeper  they  lay  in 
our  hearts.  Patriotism  was  like  religious  martrydom.  Our 
country  did  not  return  our  love.  On  the  contrary,  it  was 
requited  by  hate  and  persecution  from  those  high  in  station, 
and  by  neglect  and  ridicule  from  the  lowly.  And,  in  spite 
of  all,  for  more  than  fifty  years  we  stood  firm  and  true,  without 
hope  of  reward. 

In  the  city,  the  bells  were  ringing  and  all  the  houses  were 
decorated  with  flags.     The  Councillor's  wife  received  us  on 
the  stairs  and  said,   "  Welcome,  great-grandfather !  Martha 
has  given  birth  to  a  son." 
31 


482  WALDFRIED. 

How  can  I  express  the  emotions  that  filled  my  heart !  My 
country  united  under  a  powerful,  victorious  chief,  and  on  the 
same  day  a  great-grandchild  born  to  me.  How  can  I  de- 
serve such  unspeakable  bliss  ! 

I  was  allowed  to  speak  to  Martha  for  a  minute,  and  to 
take  my  great-grandson  in  my  arms.  He  opened  his  eyes, 
and  Martha  cried,  "  He  has  liis  grandmother's  eyes. 
When  at  Strasburg,  Julius  asked  that  his  name  should  be 
Erwin." 

The  Councillor's  wife  ordered  her  to  be  quiet,  adding : 
"  You  can  now  be  perfectly  happy  ;  the  conflict  is  over,  and 
your  husband  returns  full  of  honors.  You  are  blessed  in- 
deed, and  we  are  blessed  through  you.  Sleep  now ;  when 
you  really  want  to  sleep,  you  can  do  so." 

I  had  to  leave  the  room  ;  and,  after  a  while,  the  new  grand- 
mother came  to  tell  me  that  Martha  was  sleeping  quietly. 

I  remained  in  the  city.  The  grandfather  came  for  a  day, 
and  told  me  that  he  agreed  with  Julius,  who,  as  he  had  so 
greatly  distinguished  himself,  wished  to  remain  in  the  mili- 
tary service. 

My  eyes  have  looked  upon  the  third  generation ;  I  was  also 
to  see  the  dream  of  my  youth  realized  in  the  establishment 
of  the  German  Empire,  and  my  family  had  fairly  done  their 
share  towards  it.  But  our  joys  are  never  unalloyed.  No 
tree  in  the  forest  has  an  uninterrupted  growth.  A  raven 
comes,  rests  on  its  top,  and  bends  and  blights  the  tender 
sapling. 

Yes,  a  raven  of  misfortune  came.  A  letter  from  Annette 
reported,  in  a  few  hasty  words,  that  Richard  had  disappeared, 
and  that  he  had  probably  fallen  into  the  hands  of  the  franc 
tireurs.  There  was  still  some  hope  of  his  life.  She  had 
started  out  with  Wolfgang  to  hunt  him  up.  Wolfgang,  being 
an  American  citizen,  could  get  through  the  lines.  She  asked 


WALDFRIED.  483 

us  to  move  heaven  and  earth  to  save  Richard.  In  a  post- 
script, she  reminded  me  of  the  wounded  French  officer  whom 
she  was  nursing  when  I  searched  for  the  Colonel.  How 
wonderful !  every  good  deed  meets  its  reward.  The  officer 
had  given  her  a  pass,  from  which  she  promised  herself  the 
best  results. 

Ludwig  was  not  for  a  moment  alarmed  by  the  danger  into 
which  his  only  son  had  ventured.  He  had  full  confidence 
in  Wolfgang's  discretion,  and  his  words  were  full  of  assur- 
ance that  he  would  not  be  found  wanting. 

I  believe  that  this  confidence  was  genuine,  but  I  also  be- 
lieve that  he  tried,  for  my  sake,  to  mitigate  the  shock  which 
the  news  about  Richard  had  given  me. 

It  puzzled  me  how  Richard,  who  did  not  belong  to  the 
combatants,  could  be  captured  by  the  enemy ;  but  Ludwig 
stopped  all  brooding  over  it  by  saying :  u  Father,  will  you 
accompany  me  to  the  capital  ?  I  wish  to  see  our  ambassa- 
dor ;  he  must  give  me  all  possible  assistance." 

In  the  capital,  all  the  bells  were  ringing,  and  at  the  rail- 
road station  "  extras  "  were  announced  with  the  Emperor's 
proclamation.  In  the  midst  of  a  group  of  people  in  the 
street  stood  a  man  reading  the  words  of  the  Emperor.  I 
knew  him  ;  it  was  Loedinger.  His  voice  trembled ;  and  when 
he  had  finished,  and  the  joyful  crowd  marched  through  the 
streets,  he  saw  me  and  embraced  me  heartily. 

"What  have  we  lived  to  see?"  he  cried.  "Now  we  can 
die  in  peace.  But  what  is  the  matter  with  you  ?  Why  do 
you  not  cheer  with  us  ?  " 

I  told  him,  in  a  few  words,  of  the  capture  of  my  son,  and 
the  worst  fears  which  it  justified. 

Ludwig  went  at  once  to  his  ambassador,  and  I  to  the  pal- 
ace to  see  the  Prince,  who  would  doubtless  use  his  influence 
for  the  rescue  of  my  son.  In  the  palace,  there  was  great 


484  WALDFRIED. 

commotion.  They  said  that  no  message  could  be  taken  to 
the  Prince  now,  as  he  was  presiding  at  a  session  of  the  Privy 
Council.  I  had  to  wait  a  long  while.  In  the  streets,  the 
rejoicing  went  on ;  it  could  be  faintly  heard  from  afar. 
The  whole  city  was  illuminated. 

At  last  I  was  told  that  the  Prince  could  not  see  me  to- 
day ;  I  must  leave  my  petition  with  the  chief  of  the  Cabinet. 
He  was  a  relative  of  my  son-in-law,  and  was  favorably  inclined 
towards  me.  He  said  that  from  there  no  effective  steps 
could  be  taken  ;  that  it  was  the  business  of  the  Imperial  gov- 
ernment, and  that  I  should  address  myself  to  the  Prussian 
ambassador,  to  whom  he  gave  me  a  few  lines.  I  felt  like  a 
beggar  who  is  sent  from  house  to  house. 

At  the  Prussian  Embassy,  I  was  informed  that  the  Ameri- 
can Minister  was  attending  a  conference,  and  that  there 
was  a  stranger  with  him. 

I  was  called  in,  and  found  Ludwig  with  the  two  ambassa- 
dors. All  necessary  steps  had  already  been  agreed  upon, 
and  dispatches  were  at  once  forwarded  to  Versailles. 

We  drove  to  the  station  in  the  American  Minister's 
coach,  and  Ludwig  started  for  France,  at  once. 

I  went  to  Bertha,  and,  in  spite  of  the  new  trouble  that 
poured  in  upon  me,  I  felt  somewhat  relieved  when  with  my 
daughter  and  her  children.  Victor  looked  splendidly  in  his 
cadet  uniform.  Bertha  met  me  with  outstretched  arms,  say- 
ing, "  Father,  we  shall  soon  have  peace,  and  he  is  now  al- 
most a  general." 

It  was  not  the  least  part  of  my  sorrow  that  I  had  to  inform 
Bertha  of  our  deep  anxiety  for  Richard.  In  the  gladness  of 
her  heart,  she  ascribed  it  all  to  the  exaggerated  fears  of  An- 
nette. The  human  heart  is  selfish ;  in  moments  of  great 
happiness  it  wants  to  hear  nothing  of  the  sorrows  of  others, 
and  refuses  to  believe  them. 


WALDFRIED.  455 

I  was  compelled  to  mar  the  joy  of  the  proud,  loving  wife ; 
and  when  Bertha  too  was  filled  with  alarm,  she  pitied 
Annette  even  more  than  her  brother.  She  thought  it  par- 
ticularly hard  that  Annette,  who  was  so  good  and  self-sacri- 
ficing, should  again  and  again  be  overwhelmed  with  sorrow. 
She  believed  that  Richard  had  loved  Annette  before  the 
death  of  her  husband,  and  that  his  repentance  and  severity 
towards  himself  caused  him  to  be  so  bitter  to  her.  He 
struggled  with  his  love  for  the  woman  on  whom  his  eyes  had 
rested  with  admiration  at  a  time  when  such  admiration  was 
sinful. 

On  the  other  hand  her  natural  good  humor  and  buoyancy  of 
spirits  made  her  confident  that  Richard  would  surely  soon  be 
saved.  Richard  always  \vas  a  lucky  fellow.  She  remem- 
bered, from  childhood,  that  once  while  I  was  coming  down 
the  river  on  a  raft  with  my  raftsmen,  Richard  stood  on  shore, 
and,  crying  "  Father  !"  rushed  out  into  the  stream  till  the 
water  came  up  to  his  chin.  Balbina  ran  to  the  rescue,  and, 
when  he  was  safely  ashore  he  laughed  heartily.  He  had 
not  been  conscious  of  danger  or  fear. 

While  Bertha  recalled  all  this,  I  became  more  tranquil, 
and  when  she  expressed  her  confident  hope  that  we  would 
not  live  to  see  another  war,  I  heartily  agreed  with  her. 


CHAPTER  VII. 

IT  was  well  that  I  had  come  up  to  the  capital,  for  Par- 
liament had  been  convoked,  in  order  to  consider  the  new 
constitution,  or  rather,  the  question  of  giving  in  our  adhesion 
to  the  North  German  Confederation. 

I  scarcely  heard  the  speeches,  and  did  not  have  the 
strength  to  take  the  floor  myself. 

When  a  vote  was  at  last  reached,  it  went  hard  with  me  to 
vote  "  aye."  In  spite  of  my  joy  that  there  was  now  a  United 
Germany,  I  had  labored  too  long  for  the  establishment  of 
German  landed  rights,  to  content  myself  without  their 
being  embodied  in  laws. 

I  was  deeply  moved  by  a  remark  of  my  old  and  faithful 
colleague,  Loedinger  :  "  I  fear  that  in  the  new  German  consti- 
tution, it  will  only  be  too  evident  that  the  movement  which 
brought  it  about,  was  not  initiated  by  the  people." 

We  heard  from  Annette  and  Wolfgang,  who  wrote  that  they 
had  at  last  obtained  a  clue  to  aid  them  in  the  search  for 
Richard.  He  had,  for  a  long  time,  been  dragged  about  the 
country,  and  had  then  been  sent  to  the  Isles  d'Hyeres. 

Now,  for  the  first  time,  I% learned  the  details  of  his  cap. 
ture.  Richard  had  crossed  our  lines  into  the  enemy's 
country,  being  tempted  to  do  so  by  a  desire  to  investigate 
certain  points  of  local  history.  He  was  arrested  by  the 
franc  tireurs,  who  took  him  for  a  spy  and  wanted  to  shoot 
him.  It  was  only  through  the  interference  of  a  man  who 
was  able  to  read  Richard's  journal  that  he  was  saved  from 
instant  death. 


WALDFRIED. 

This  was  all  they  had  been  able  to  discover,  up  to  the 
arrival  of  Ludvvig,  who  sent  Wolfgang  home,  and  continued 
the  search  with  Annette. 

They  were  often  led  astray,  and  shown  prisoners  whom 
they  did  not  know.  They  would  have  liked  to  console  and 
encourage  them  by  the  news  of  the  progress  of  our  victorious 
armies  and  the  certainty  of  a  speedy  peace,  but  they  dared 
not  risk  it. 

Ludwig  added  to  his  letter  minute  directions  concerning 
the  mill. 

We  were  now  perfectly  safe  in  pushing  the  enterprise  for- 
ward, as  Bourbaki's  forces  had  been  driven  into  Switzerland 
and  disarmed. 

I  could  not  content  myself  at  the  capital,  and  journeyed 
homewards.  On  the  way,  I  met  Baron  Arven,  who  had  re- 
turned from  the  field  seriously  ill,  and  who  hoped  to  regain 
his  health  at  home.  I  accompanied  him,  and  found  some 
pleasure  in  bearing  him  company  in  his  deserted  mansion — 
his  wife  was  in  Rome,  both  his  sons  still  in  the  field.  "  I 
shall  die  at  home  after  all,"  was  his  invariable  answer  when- 
ever we  attempted  to  console  him.  Our  excellent  physi- 
cian prepared  me  for  the  worst.  I  was  with  Arven  in  his 
last  hour,  and  was  present  when  his  remains  were  deposited 
in  the  family  vault. 

Joseph  came  to  take  me  home. 

In  war  times,  one's  feelings  at  last  become  familiarized  with 
death  scenes. 

I  soon  again  was  called  upon  to  take  a  part  in  public  life. 

The  election  campaign  opened.  Remminger,  who  had 
returned  from  the  field  to  get  cured  of  severe  rheumatism, 
brought  me  the  paper  which  represented  our  party.  In  it,  he 
was  recommended  as  delegate  to  the  Reichstag  from  our 
district,  as  a  man  of  merit,  and  of  experience  in  military 


4S8  WALDFRIED. 

matters.  I  did  not  begrudge  him  the  honor,  nor  the  office. 
It  gave  his  life  a  greater  value,  though  I  did  not  know  that 
he  ever  took  any  part  in  political  matters,  or  even  showed 
any  desire  in  that  direction. 

I  thought  it  remarkable  that  in  the  article,  particular 
stress  was  laid  on  the  fact,  that  he  was  a  friend  and  former 
comrade  of  my  son-in-law,  who  had  so  greatly  distinguished 
himself  in  the  three  days'  battle  against  Bourbaki. 

What  motive  could  there  have  been  for  referring  to  that 
fact  ?  However,  if  it  could  be  of  any  use  to  the  man,  I  was 
content. 

He  asked  me  whether  I  had  had  any  hand  in  the  publica- 
tion of  the  article.  He  had  never  thought  of  taking  part  in 
politics,  but  if  the  place  were  offered  him,  he  would  not 
shirk  the  duty.  I  heard  that  the  article  was  supposed  to  have 
emanated  either  from  Joseph  or  myself. 

We  inquired  at  the  office,  and  were  informed  that  the 
nomination  had  been  sent  in  with  the  stamp  of  our  nearest 
post-office,  and  with  a  rather  indistinct  signature,  which 
might  well  be  Joseph's. 

Joseph  asserted  that  Funk  was  the  author.  I  did  not  be- 
lieve it,  because  the  entire  article  did  not  contain  a  single 
superlative.  He  never  could,  even  while  writing,  restrain  his 
peculiar  talent  for  screaming. 

Great  thoughts  stirred  the  hearts  of  men,  but  littleness, 
cunning,  and  mischief-making  had  not  ceased  either.  But 
what  matters  it  ?  A  tree  grows  all  the  same,  whether  ants 
and  beetles  crawl  upon  it  or  not. 

A  second  article  shortly  afterward  appeared  in  the  country 
papers,  in  which  it  was  said  that  military  despotism  had  un- 
masked its  batteries.  But  the  people  were  awake ;  the  peo- 
ple, who  did  not  pray  to  the  god  whose  name  is  Success  ;  but 
were  true  to  their  o\vn  eternal  aims  and  ideas.  The  clamor  of 


WALDFRIED.  489 

victory  must  not  drown  the  cries  for  liberty.  We  still  had 
approved  champions  in  our  midst ;  our  district  still  owned 
an  independent  man  of  large  landed  property ;  he  should 
be  deputy ;  they  should  be  made  to  see  at  Berlin  what  plain, 
strong  men  tilled  our  land. 

Joseph  asserted  that  the  papers  of  the  popular  party 
wanted  to  draw  me  to  their  side.  There  were  inquiries  in 
the  journals  from  different  quarters  as  to  who  was  meant  by 
"  the  firm  man  of  solid  worth,"  until  he  was  named  at  last. 
It  was  Schweitzer- Schmalz.  As  usual,  it  was  claimed  that 
South  Germany  was  the  only' real  Germany,  just  as  peasants 
were  said  to  be  the  only  genuine  people.  To-day,  the  peas- 
ants ;  to-morrow,  perhaps  the  so-called  laborer.  The  red 
waistcoat  of  Schweitzer-Schmalz  was  to  do  service  as  the 
popular  flag. 

Joseph  was  filled  with  anger  and  disgust,  and  I  urged  him 
to  accept  the  nomination  himself.  He  had  much  influence, 
and  there  were  few  other  men  in  the  district  so  well  thought 
of  as  he. 

I  can  say  much  in  Joseph's  favor;  he  wishes  to  see  the 
state  honestly  served ;  but  he  also  likes  to  attend  to  his 
business.  Just  then,  Joseph  had  indeed  a  heavy  load  to 
carry.  He  had  brought  a  large  squad  of  foresters  from  the 
Tyrol,  and  had  to  provide  several  new  teams. 

We  heard  that  Schweitzer-Schmalz  had,  at  first,  declined 
the  proffered  offer;  but  when  he  found  the  election  was  not 
to  cost  him  any  money,  only  some  little  condescension  tow- 
ards the  poorer  people,  a  few  casks  of  beer,  and,  more  than 
all  else,  strong  language  against  military  dictation,  he  de- 
clared his  readiness.  He  was  plain  spoken,  and  yet  cunning 
enough  to  declare,  at  the  valley  tavern,  that,  if  he  should  be 
defeated  it  would  be  more  of  an  honor  than  a  disgrace  to 
him.  People  would  then  always  say,  "Here  is  the  man  who 


490 


WALDFRIED. 


ought  to  have  been  our  deputy  at  the  Reichstag.  He  is  a 
man  of  the  right  sort." 

The  movement  continued.  It  was  a  sorrowful  spectacle 
for  me,  to  see  how  the  domestic  enemies  of  the  Empire  in- 
scribed our  Frankfort  Constitution  on  their  flag,  and  cried 
that  it  must  be  accepted  without  debate.  What  should  be 
done  in  case  it  was  not  accepted,  they  would  not  say ;  they 
knew  as  well  as  we  did,  that  the  adoption  of  the  constitution 
of  1848  was  an  impossibility.  But  they  wanted  to  start  an 
opposition,  and  to  surround  it  with  a  halo  of  glory. 

On  the  last  day  of  February,  we  received  the  news  that  the 
preliminaries  of  peace  were  agreed  upon,  and  our  German 
Emperor  announced,  "  We  have  arrived  at  the  end  of  the 
glorious  but  bloody  war  which  was  so  wantonly  and  wick- 
edly forced  upon  us." 

We  who  lived  on  the  borders  were  delighted  beyond 
measure  to  know  that  Alsace-Lorraine  had  been  brought 
home  to  us  again ;  and  when  I  was  speaking  with  my  folks 
about  it,  Rothfuss  remarked  : 

"  Now  I  know  how  it  worked.  Those  who  live  along  the 
Rhine,  from  Basle  downward,  felt  the  way  you  do,  when  you 
lie  abed  in  winter  time  and  have  too  narrow  a  blanket. 
Whenever  you  move,  you  are  uncovered  and  get  cold.  Now 
we  have  a  good  double  bed ;  now  we  can  stretch  ourselves, 
and,  over  there,  stand  the  Vosges  mountains  ;  that  is  a  good 
solid  wall ;  no  draft  gets  through  that." 


CHAPTER  VIII. 

HE  ides  of  March  had  returned  as  they  had  twenty-three 
•1-  years  before,  but  how  different  now  !  We  stood  on  a 
basis  of  real  power,  which  had  been  wrested  in  battle  from 
our  restless  neighbor. 

The  armistice  with  the  enemy  without  was  concluded,  but 
.at  the  polls  we  had  to  struggle  against  adversaries  within. 

The  best  men  of  our  district  came  and  explained  to  me 
how  false  a  game  was  being  played.  "  They  are  electioneer- 
ing for  Schweitzer-Schmalz,  who  would  not  be  so  bad  a  man, 
but,  at  the  last  moment,  they  mean  to  drop  him  and  trans- 
fer the  votes  to  Funk,  who  has  acquired  a  considerable  for- 
tune by  the  war." 

The  men  urged  me,  and  Schwarzenberg,  the  lumber  mer- 
chant, was  not  the  least  among  them,  to  allow  myself  to  be 
put  up  as  a  candidate,  both  as  a  matter  of  right  and 
duty.  He  claimed  that  I,  who  had  assisted  at  the  vex- 
atious and  fruitless  labors  at  Frankfort,  should  have  the 
nomination.  Only  in  that  way,  could  the  defeat  of  the  Funk 
party  be  assured. 

I  told  them  what  trouble  I  had,  and  that  I  was  too  old, 
and  unequal  to  the  duties  the  office  would  impose  upon  me. 

Then  the  burgomaster  of  Kaltenbach,  a  quiet,  worthy 
man,  reminded  me  that  I  had  often  said  one  should  drown 
domestic  griefs  in  active  labors  for  the  Fatherland.  He  bade 
me  consider  what  would  become  of  us  Germans,  if  we  should 
fail  to  secure  true  unity. 


492 


WALDFRIED. 


Those  who  had  fallen  in  France,  would,  in  that  case,  be 
disgraced  and  dishonored  by  the  result. 

I  could  not  yield,  in  spite  of  all  that  was  said  ;  and  Joseph 
asked  me,  "  If  Richard  is  saved,  will  you  consent  ?  " 

"  I  do  not  make  vows  !  " 

"  I  did  not  mean  it  in  that  way ;  but  would  your  mind  be 
sufficiently  at  ease  ?  " 

I  asked  for  time  to  consider  the  matter. 

There  was  to  be  a  meeting  of  electors  on  the  next  even- 
ing. I  was  alone,  buried  in  thought  ;  but  soon  a  true  and 
encouraging  companion  arrived.  It  was  a  letter,  the  hand- 
writing of  which  I  did  not  recognize  ;  but  when  I  had  broken 
the  seal  and  read  the  signature,  I  seemed  to  hear  the  voice 
of  sincerity  itself — it  was  a  letter  from  Doctor  Wilhelmi,  of 
Berlin. 

Ludwig  had  already  informed  me  that  Wilhelmi  had  re- 
turned years  ago,  and  I  had  heard  of  his  labors  with  genuine 
delight.  I  had  often  wished  to  send  him  a  word  of  cheer, 
but  had  not  found  the  opportunity.  Now  he  wrote  : 

"All  hail!  thus  do  I  salute  you  in  your  forest  home.  And 
now  let  me  tell  you  all  about  ourselves.  My  wife  and  other 
ladies  are  at  work  day  and  night  at  the  railroad  depots,  pro- 
viding the  troops,  and  particularly  the  sick  and  wounded  ones, 
with  refreshments.  One  day,  a  large  body  of  prisoners  ar- 
rived in  charge  of  one  of  your  country  people.  My  wife  ob- 
served this  as  soon  as  he  opened  his  mouth,  and  asked  him 
about  you.  The  man  had  been  servant  to  a  sullen  and  ill- 
natured  forester  in  your  neighborhood,  and  you  may  imagine 
how  glad  we  were  to  hear  of  you.  For  years  I  have  often 
read  your  name,  and  often  intended  to  write  to  you  ;  now, 
a  messenger  had  come  to  us  from  you. 

"  We  provided  him  with  quarters.     He  is  really  becoming 


WALDFRIED. 


493 


spoiled  by  our  friends,  for  the  Berlin  folks  find  the  Suabian 
dialect  '  charming,  delightful,'  and  your  countryman  is  a 
rogue. 

"  He  outherods  Herod  ;  speaks  the  dialect  more  emphati- 
cally than  ever  Suabian  did  before,  and,  when  his  bravery  is 
praised  (he  has  received  many  orders)  is  condescending 
enough  to  confess,  *  We  did  not  do  everything  ;  the  Prussians 
too  behaved  quite  decently.' 

"  'Quite  decently,'  is  the  highest  compliment  your  coun- 
trymen ever  bestow  on  any  one.  When  the  man  gets  home 
he  will  tell  you  that  the  Berlinese  are  all  angels.  I  sin- 
cerely trust  that  you,  too,  will  soon  make  their  acquaint- 
ance. 

"  How  are  your  children  ?  above  all,  the  daughter  who  was 
with  you  in  Strasburg  years  ago. 

"  I  hear  that  Ludwig  is  with  you.  Tell  him  to  remain  ;  we 
need  men  like  him. 

"  What  has  become  of  the  handsome  boy,  Arndt's  favorite, 
who  was  with  us  in  Frankfort  ?  And  what  of  the  young 
student  who  came  to  visit  us  there  ? 

"  Write  to  me,  or,  what  would  be  better  still,  come  here 
soon.  We  need  old  masons  to  build  up  the  new  state." 

His  wife  had  added  a  postscript  saying :  "  When  you 
come  to  Berlin,  you  must  stay  with  us." 

Joseph  thought  the  best  way  to  keep  Ludwig  at  home 
would  be  to  elect  him  a  member  of  the  Reichstag.  He  had 
made  inquiries  of  an  attorney  in  the  little  neighboring  town, 
and  had  been  told  that  Ludwig  had  not  resided  long  enough 
in  Germany  to  be  eligible  ;  but  that  as  these  were  extraordi- 
nary times,  the  Reichstag  would  probably  admit  him. 

The  matter  was  brought  before  the  election  committee, 
but  was  not  carried,  as  we  should  not  be  so  sure  of  our  voters 


494 


WALDFRIED. 


if  we  had  to  go  before  the  county  a  secofid  time.  The 
country  people  could  with  difficulty  be  induced  to  lose  a 
work-day ;  the  high  pitch  of  patriotic  sentiment  that  now  ob- 
tained might  not  last  long. 

I  accepted  the  nomination. 

I  have  nothing  to  report  in  regard  to  the  election  cam- 
paign, except  this ;  it  was  the  first  time  we  had  been  obliged 
to  fight  the  new  clerical  party. 

I  do  not  like  to  speak  of  clerical  machinations.  France 
was  conquered,  and  France  was  the  last  stay  of  the  Papal 
power.  Our  victories  had  enabled  the  King  of  Italy  to  enter 
Rome.  There  was  now  an  attempt  to  set  on  foot  a  carefully 
disguised  opposition  in  our  own  country.  A  prebendary  be- 
longing to  the  diocese,  travelled  through  our  district,  and  held 
secret  conferences  with  the  pastors,  to  induce  them  to  in- 
fluence votes  for  a  champion  who  had  made  himself  noto- 
rious, by  the  strong  language  he  had  used. 

Joseph  finds  out  everything,  and  thus  he  soon  learned  that 
the  lower  clergy  leaned  towards  the  patriotic  side,  but  that 
they  would  not  risk  open  opposition.  And,  apropos  of  that, 
an  amusing  story  was  in  circulation. 

The  prebendary  asked  the  sleek  and  wily  pastor  of  Rot- 
tenhoch,  "And  how  do  matters  stand  in  your  village?  What 
are  you  able  and  willing  to  do  ?  " 

"  Whatever  the  Right  Reverend  Bishop  commands,  shall 
be  done." 

The  Right  Reverend  turned  and  twisted  as  best  he  might : 
but  the  priest  could  not  be  made  to  understand  that  his  su- 
periors desired  to  avoid  giving  explicit  orders ;  and  the  others, 
who  saw  that  the  attempts  to  secure  his  compliance  always 
elicited  the  same  reply,  bit  their  tongues  to  keep  from  laugh- 
ing outright. 

It  was  the  first  Sunday  after  Easter,  on  a  bright  spring  day, 


WALDFRIED.  495 

when  my  friends  came  to  take  me  to  the  meeting  of  the 
voters. 

Rothfuss  went  with  Carl,  the  young  meadow-farmer,  and 
said,  "  Yes,  Carl,  you  are  lucky ;  you  begin  in  your  young 
days.  This  is  the  first  chance  I  have  ever  had  to  tell  our 
man  what  he  should  say  to  the  Emperor  for  me.  But  it  is  a 
good  thing  after  all ;  and  mind  what  I  tell  you — before  the 
election  we  will  only  take  one  drink ;  not  a  drop  more." 

At  the  same  time,  he  swore  at  the  workmen  at  the 
mill,  who  had  allowed  themselves  to  be  influenced  by 
Funk.  He  declared  that  they  were  even  capable  of  voting 
against  me.  Carl  said  that,  as  far  as  his  two  brothers  were 
concerned,  it  was  true.  They  had  been  expelled  from  Alsace, 
had  received  employment  in  Ludwig's  mill,  and  now  pub- 
licly said  that  they  would  give  their  votes  to  Funk. 

At  the  meeting,  it  happened  just  as  Joseph  had  predicted. 
Schweitzer-Schmalz  stepped  forward  and  declared  that  a  man 
like  himself  could  not  leave  his  large  estate  and  go  to  Ber- 
lin ;  they  should,  therefore,  give  the  votes  intended  for  him, 
to  that  intrepid  man  of  the  people — Funk. 

But  now  something  happened  that  took  us  all  by  surprise. 
Funk  mounted  the  rostrum.  He  laid  it  down  that  a  consti- 
tution without  fundamental  rights  was  a  farce,  and  it  cut  me 
to  the  quick  when  he  dared  to  add,  "  We  uphold  the  old 
German  flag — the  sacred  flag  of  freedom — immaculate,  and 
shall  not  desert  our  colors." 

In  conclusion,  he  s&d.  "  I  implore  you  not  to  call  on  me 
now.  The  time  will  come  when  they  must  call  us  to  save 
our  liberties  ;  that  time  has  not' yet  arrived. 

"  For  the  present,  we  will  leave  the  pseudo-Prussian  to  the 
undisturbed  enjoyment  of  the  national  beggars'  broth  filled 
with  imperial  dumplings,  which  is  being  served  up  in  the 
famous  spiked  helmet. 


WALDFRIED. 

"  I  thank  you,"  he  cried,  when  the  yelling  which  followed 
this  speech  had  somewhat  abated,  "  for  the  votes  with  which 
you  honor  me.  I  esteem  them  highly,  but  we  must  wait. 
So  let  us  bide  our  time." 

Joseph  prevented  me  from  answering.  He  mounted  the 
stand,  and  said  that  Herr  Funk  deserved  all  possible  praise 
for  his  shrewdness.  He  knew  that  he  could  not  be  success- 
ful, and  had  therefore  declined,  in  order  to  try  his  chances 
at  some  future  time.  "  Herr  P'unk  waits  ;  we,  too,  can  wait." 

I  was  elected  by  a  large  majority  ;  and  the  walk  home- 
ward, surrounded  by  my  electors,  was  one  of  the  happiest 
hours  of  my  life.  It  was  even  more  joyful  than  when, 
twenty-three  years  earlier,  I  was  elected  a  delegate  to 
Frankfort.  I  forgot  my  anxiety  about  Richard. 

When  I  took  leave  of  Rothfuss  at  the  railway  station,  he 
held  me  by  the  hand,  a  long  while,  and  said  :  "  Oh  master,  if 
it  was  only  not  so  far  to  Berlin,  you  should  have  taken  me 
along,  anyhow.  Keep  yourself  well,  right  well ;  and  don't 
drink  any  water ;  Willem  says  there  is  good  wine  to  be  had 
at  Berlin,  too." 

A  tear  glistened  in  his  eye,  and  the  leave-taking  from 
this  faithful  companion  moved  me  deeply.  He  had  never 
before  been  so  anxious  and  concerned  about  me. 

Many  friends  told  me,  "This  new  labor  will  wear  you 
out." 

Be  it  so,  I  am  here  to  be  of  use. 


CHAPTER  IX. 

THE  old  Burschenschafter*  !  Yes,  treasured  in  secret 
and  worn  like  an  amulet  of  magic  power,  for  the  sake 
of  which  we  suffered,  are  the  colors  of  the  new  confederation. 
At  first,  the  thought  pained  me  ;  but  perhaps  it  is  all  for  the 
best.  The  Empire  which  is  now  being  established,  is  not  quite 
the  one  of  which  we  sang  and  dreamed,  or  for  the  love  of 
which  we  were  thrown  into  dungeons.  But  it  is  full  of  a 
new  and  vigorous  life,  and  instead  of  the  golden  glitter  of 
poesy,  we  have  the  simple  white  of  prose. 

I  am  not  of  a  combative  disposition,  and  have  always 
longed  for  a  condition  of  affairs  to  which  I  could  heartily 
assent.  And  now  my  greatest  happiness  is  to  know  that  I 
am  no  longer  condemned  to  what  I  had  feared  would  prove 
a  life-long  opposition  to  the  powers-that  be. 

The  newly  elected  members  had  their  rendezvous  at  the 
railroad  junction.  A  majority  were  faithful  to  the  Em- 
pire. The  few  who  belonged  to  the  progressives,  or  to  the 
ultramontanes,  were  loud  in  their  protestation  of  love  for  our 
newly-cemented  union. 

My  friend  Loedinger,  that  true  old  soul,  was  also  elected. 
He  studied  with  me  at  Jena,  was  with  me  in  prison,  and,  for 
many  years,  sat  near  me  in  the  Parliament.  "  We  two  have 
by  this  time  become  quite  used  to  each  other,"  were  "his 
words,  as  he  took  the  seat  next  to  me.  And,  as  if  by  pre- 

*  A  member  of  the  Burschenschaft,  the  name  of  an  association  of  the 
students  of  Germany,  formed  in  1815,  and  having  for  its  object  the 
political  regeneration  of  their  Fatherland. 
33 


498  WALDFRIED. 

vious  agreement,  we  were  always  together  during  the  whole 
journey. 

The  days  were  fresh  and  spring-like,  and,  although  our 
hearts  were  filled  with  solemn  thoughts,  nothing  but  jokes 
were  heard.  Next  to  Baribal,  the  gayest  was  Professor 
Rolunt,  who,  before  he  entered  the  military  service,  had 
studied  in  Berlin,  and  had  here  received  the  so-called  finish- 
ing touch.  On  the  way,  there  was  much  cheerful  discussion 
of  the  peculiarities  that  distinguish  various  sections  of  our 
country  and  the  fanaticism  with  which  every  district  believes 
that  its  customs  and  modes  of  expression  alone  represent 
the  real  German  mind. 

Orfenheimer,  the  lawyer,  who  had  also  been  elected  a 
member  of  the  Reichstag,  spoke  quite  forcibly  on  this  sub- 
ject, by  demonstrating  that  we  South  Germans  believed 
ours  to  be  trie  veritable  language  of  the  soul.  When  there 
is  a  prejudice  to  combat,  Offenheimer  always  is  particularly 
eloquent.  He  knows  Berlin,  and  lives  here  with  relatives 
of  his. 

Cato  Debold,  the  inveterate  South  German,  thought  it 
hard  that  the  rough  North  German  manner  should  now 
gain  the  supremacy.  When  he  saw  the  first  windmills,  he 
scoffed  at  North  German  windbags ;  and  when  the  Professor 
added  that  in  North  Germany  there  were  no  running  springs, 
but  only  pumps,  he  was  quite  happy,  and  vaunted  the  number 
of  springs  we  possessed  at  home. 

Rolunt  allowed  him  to  finish  his  harangue,  and  then  re- 
plied that  the  North  Germans,  finding  themselves  without 
fast  flowing  streams,  had  made  an  invisible  power,  the 
winds,  work  for  them  ;  and  that  pump  water  was  as  re- 
freshing as  that  from  fountains. 

But,  against  that,  Debold  showed  that  the  portion  of  Ger- 
many, that  lay  on  the  other  side  of  the  Thuringian  Mountains 


WALDFRIED. 

had,  through  being  divided  into  small  farms,  become  quite 
different,  and  far  advanced  in  comparison  with  the  North. 
And  in  municipial  liberty,  we  also  stand  far  ahead  of  North 
Germany  ;  and  shall  we  now  submit  to  have  that  encroached 
upon  ? 

"  That  will  regulate  itself.  The  others  will  become  more 
agreeable,  and  we  will  get  sharper,"  said  the  Professor. 

At  many  stations  we  heard  the  people  say :  "  Here  are 
the  South  German  Representatives." 

Our  reception  was  not  so  stormy  and  excited  as  the  one 
accorded  us  twenty-three  years  before  when  we  went  to 
Frankfort.  The  public  mood  was  now  calm  and  earnest. 

On  the  road,  one  of  the  members  said,  "  If  your  Richard 
had  returned,  he  would  doubtless  have  been  elected."  Ah  ! 
when  one  has  a  sorrow,  he  expects  others  to  have  some 
consideration,  and  not  touch  upon  it,  even  though  it  be  in 
the  way  of  kindness. 

At  Gotha,  where  many  new  delegates  joined  us,  we  all 
received  bouquets,  and  the  principal  of  the  gymnasium 
cleverly  said  that  we  should  adorn  ourselves  with  wedding 
favors,  as  we  were  going  to  the  wedding  of  North  and  South 
Germany. 

At  Eisenach,  my  granddaughter  Christiane  and  her  affianced 
awaited  me.  He  was  still  walking  on  crutches,  but  hoped 
to  lay  them  aside  in  a  few  months,  and  to  depend  upon  his 
wife's  arm  for  support.  Christiane  had  become  quite  youth- 
ful in  appearance.  She  fairly  beamed  with  happiness,  as 
she  looked  now  at  me,  and  now  at  her  betrothed. 

The  others  continued  on  their  journey,  but  Loedinger  and 
I  remained  behind  to  visit  a  hallowed  shrine.  I  spent  the 
evening  with  Christiane  and  her  betrothed.  I  promised  to 
attend  the  wedding  on  my  return  from  the  Reichstag. 

At  early  dawn,  Loedinger  and  I  ascended  the  Wartburg. 


WALDFRIED. 

We  knew  that  each  other's  thoughts  wandered  back  to  the 
companions  who,  more  than  half  a  century  ago,  had  come 
here,  filled  with  the  enthusiasm  of  youth.  An  invisible 
band  of  warriors  marched  at  our  side. 

Silently,  we  walked  through  the  halls  of  the  castle.  When 
we  looked  out  over  the  country,  far  and  wide,  Loedinger 
grasped  my  hand  and  said  :  "It  is  hard,  after  all,  that  our 
flag,  with  its  sacred  colors,  does  not  float  here  in  the  morning 
breeze.  They  should  have  left  us  that.  There  is  great 
danger  in  the  fact  that  it  is  now  the  banner  of  the  opposi- 
tion, and  is  raised  by  the  hands  of  those  who  are  against  us 
and  the  unity  we  have  labored  so  hard  to  win." 

While  trying  to  console  him,  I  consoled  myself,  and  the 
ardor  of  youth  seemed  to  return  to  us. 

Descending  the  mountain,  we  sang  our  old  student  songs, 
and  felt  young  again. 

Yes,  this  mountain  is  the  altar  of  all  that  is  great  and  pure 
and  beautiful  in  our  united  Fatherland. 

When  we  passed  Weimar,  where  the  creators  of  the  unity 
of  German  thought  had  dwelt  and  labored,  Loedinger  said, 
"  We  might  well  cry  out :  '  Hearken,  ye  heroes  of  the  mind, 
your  words  have  become  deeds.'  " 

Doctor  Wilhelmi  and  his  wife  received  me  at  the  rail- 
road depot. 

Friend  Wilhelmi,  once  a  handsome,  slender  man,  has  grown 
stout,  but  the  sound  of  his  hearty,  musical  voice,  the  warm 
and  kindly  glance,  the  grasp  of  his  hand,  are  all  unchanged. 

Loedinger  was  lodged  with  a  friend  of  his,  who  lived  in 
the  neighborhood,  and  I  soon  felt  at  home  with  my  old  friends. 
The  best  people  of  the  city,  yes  of  the  whole  country,  made 
their  house  a  rendezvous.  I  have  here  made  the  acquain- 
tance of  a  great  number  of  men  of  distinguished  merit.  We 
are  well  supplied  in  that  respect. 


WALDFRIED.  50 1 

I  also  made  the  nearer  acquaintance  of  some  of  those 
sharp  Prussians.  I  felt  at  first  as  if  they  were  setting  my 
teeth  on  edge.  But,  after  awhile,  I  recognized  their  good 
traits. 

Doctor  Wilhelmi  still  has  an  album  of  the  members  of  the 
Frankfort  Reichstag.  We  renewed  our  memories  of  olden 
days  while  looking  at  the  pictures,  and  supplemented  each 
other's  information  with  what  we  knew  of  this  or  that  old 
friend. 

In  every  word  that  Wilhelmi  speaks,  I  recognize  his  lofty 
ideality ;  but  life  in  America  has  made  him  more  practical 
than  he  once  was. 

The  hospitality  of  the  Greeks  is  vaunted.  We  possess  it 
in  a  new  shape ;  for  a  whole  city  considers  itself  our  host. 

I  had  to  tell  my  friend  Wilhelmi  of  my  troubles  ;'of  my  grief 
for  Ernst,  of  my  deep  anxiety  about  Richard,  and  the  thought 
struck  me  :  "  Must  the  old  friend,  whom  we  meet  after  long 
absence,  have  his  heart  saddened  by  the  recital  of  our  woes." 


CHAPTER  X. 

I  MAKE  no  mention  of  the  proceedings  of  the  Reichs- 
tag ;  you  can  read  all  about  them  in  the  newspapers. 

I  did  not  once  take  the  floor. 

In  committee,  I  protested  energetically,  when  we  under- 
stood that  some  of  the  states  were  to  be  rewarded  for  their 
share  in  our  triumph,  by  having  certain  portions  of  Alsace  as- 
signed to  them.  This  plan  was  barely  alluded  to  in  the 
public  meetings,  and  I  am  inclined  to  think  that  the  rumor 
was  merely  a  piece  of  diplomatic  finesse. 

I  cannot  avoid  repeating  the  words  addressed  to  me  by 
the  Emperor,  when  I  was  presented  at  the  palace.  "  I  have 
a  son  and  you  have  a  grandson  in  the  field,  and  they  have, 
both  of  them,  proved  their  courage." 

His  voice  betokened  sincerity  ;  his  countenance  was  kind 
and  gentle. 

I  was  surprised  ;  even  if  the  Emperor  had  informed  him- 
self beforehand,  it  was  so  kind  of  him  to  speak  thus  of 
Julius. 

In  replying  I  told  him  that,  during  the  absence  of  my  grand- 
son in  the  field,  a  son  had  been  born  to  him. 

The  Emperor  congratulated  me.  He  took  me  by  the 
hand  !  For  a  second,  I  held  the  palm  of  my  beloved  Em- 
peror in  warm,  living  embrace.  He  must  have  felt  my  glance 
tollowing  him  when  he  walked  away.  For  the  great  and 
glorious  monarch  turned  again  and  nodded  to  me. 


WALDFRIED* 


(THE  NIGHT  BEFORE  THE  TRIUMPHAL  ENTRY.) 


•SOS 


The  festivities  have  been  gloriously  ushered  in.  The  bells 
were  ringing,  and  the  streets  were  alive  with  a  gay  and  bust- 
ling throng. 

I  roamed  about  alone,  admiring  all  that  was  beautiful  and 
enjoyable  in  the  streets  that  had  been  transformed  by  the 
beautiful  festal  decorations.  A  bit  of  Olympian  life  had 
descended  upon  our  homes. 

We  sometimes  persuade  ourselves  that  we  have  often 
thought  of,  or  wished  for,  something  that  suddenly  comes  to 
pass  :  the  rapidity  with  which  our  ideas  succeed  each  other  is 
apt  to  deceive  us.  But  I  am  sure  that  while  looking  at  the 
Academy  of  Arts,  decorated  as  it  was  with  the  portraits  of 
heroes,  I  involuntarily  thought,  "If  I  only  had  one  of 
my  own  family  with  me  now ;  I  am  so  lonely  in  this  surging 
crowd." 

All  at  once,  I  heard  a  clear,  ringing  voice  exclaim, 
"  Good  evening,  grandfather." 

My  grandson  Julius  stands  before  me,  sunburnt,  and  with 
several  orders  glistening  on  his  breast.  He  belongs  to  the 
combined  South  German  Corps  that  is  detailed  here  to  take 
part  in  the  triumphal  entry.  His  quarters  are  in  a  neigh- 
boring village,  and  he  must  return  early. 

Julius  asked  me  whom  his  son  resembled,  and  when  I  told 
him  that  little  Erwin  had  the  eyes  of  his  grandmother,  his 
face  was  radiant  with  joy. 

Taking  his  arm  in  mine,  I  went  as  far  as  the  city  gate 
with  him.  I  had  to  tell  him  all  about  Richard,  but  my  pride 
in  this  noble,  happy  grandson,  in  a  great  measure  thrust 
aside  my  grief  for  my  son, 


CHAPTER   XI. 
(June  i8M.) 

AND  now  I  write  of  the  great  day,  the  greatest  known 
to  me  and  to  all  men  living.  - 

It  was  the  morning  of  the  triumphal  entry.  I  went  out  early 
and  wandered  through  the  joyous  streets.  I  saw,  beneatl? 
the  chain  of  gay  triumphal  arches,  the  long  row  of  con- 
quered  cannon,  and,  behind  them,  the  seats  for  the  wounded, 
the  convalescents  and  their  nurses.  Music  resounded  from 
all  the  side  streets.  It  was  the  great  jubilant  heart-throb  of 
a  whole  people. 

For  a  long  time,  I  sat  on  a  chair,  which  had  been  placed 
there  for  some  invalid.  My  heart  was  so  full  when  I  thought 
that  I  had  lived  to  see  this  day ;  and,  amidst  this  high  swell- 
ing tide  of  joy,  I  could  not  help  looking  into  my  own  heart, 
and  asking  myself  how  I  had  met  the  duties  that  life  imposed 
upon  me. 

Were  I  to  die  now — this  very  day — I  have  served  the 
truth  to  the  best  of  my  ability;  I  have  intentionally  offended 
no  one,  and  have  loved  mankind  and  my  country  with  all 
my  soul.  I  was  often  weak,  but  my  weakness  has  harmed 
no  one  but  myself. 

As  this  was  passing  through  my  mind,  I  had  to  stop  sud- 
denly. My  friend  Wilhelmi  said  to  me  in  the  heartiest  man- 
ner, and  without  sarcasm,  "  You  have  within  you  an  over- 
flowing fountain  of  sentimentality."  It  is  true;  it  has 
brought  me  much  sorrow,  but  it  has  afforded  my  soul  many 


WALDFRIED. 


505 


pure  and  tranquil  experiences,  and  I  said  to  myself,  "  This 
is  not  the  time  for  tender  sensibility.  To  be  strong  is  now 
the  word. .  Look  at  the  Emperor  !  What  must  this  man 
who,  to-day,  bears  the  impress  and  the  majesty  of  great 
historical  memories,  feel  in  his  innermost  soul ;  and  yet  he 
stands  erect  and  firm."  And  as  I  thought  this,  I,  too, 
walked  along  more  firmly  than  before. 

I  went  to  the  stand  which  had  been  erected  for  the  depu- 
ties. It  was,  as  yet,  almost  empty ;  gradually,  it  filled  up. 
My  early  walk,  my  deep  emotions,  and,  more  than  all,  the 
heat  and  strained  expectation  had  thoroughly  fatigued  me. 

Then  came  my  friend  Wilhelmi.  He  motioned  to  me  from 
afar  and  waved  his  hat.  "  Waldfried,  I  bring  you  glorious 
news  ! "  he  cried.  "  Just  read  this ;  you  had  gone  out  so 
early ;  we  hunted  everywhere,  but  could  not  find  you.  A 
telegram  for  you  has  arrived  ;  your  children  are  coming." 

"  My  children  !  " 

"  Yes.  Richard  and  Ludwig  and  their  wives,  and  your 
grandson  Wolfgang." 

I  read  the  telegram  ;  there  it  was — they  were  all  coming. 
Richard  was  saved.  At  Bertha's  house,  he  was  married  to 
Annette. 

Wilhelmi  saw  me  turning  pale,  and  called  to  a  stately 
Rhenish  deputy  behind  us,  one  who  had  brought  some  good 
wine  of  his  own  raising:  "  Westerwalder,  give  us  a  glass  of 
your  best  Riidesheimer." 

O  how  the  drink  refreshed  me  !  Then  Wilhelmi  contin- 
ued :  "  I  have  more  to  tell  you,  for  now  you  are  strong 
enough  to  bear  the  joyful  news.  Your  children  are  already 
here.  The  telegram  had  been  delayed,  and  they  arrived 
half  an  hour  in  advance  of  it.  They  could  not  push  through 
to  this  place,  and  so  they  went  to  the  house  of  one  of  An- 
nette's relations,  with  whom  Offenheimer  lives.  That  is 


506  WALDFRIED. 

what  I  am  to  tell  you.  After  the  procession  we  will  meet 
them  there." 

Wilhelmi  had  to  tell  me,  first  of  all,  how  my  children 
looked.  He  said  that  Richard  still  bore  traces  of  his  recent 
sufferings,  but  that  his  eyes  would  brighten  and  his  whole 
face  light  up,  whenever  he  looked  at  his  wife.  Wilhelmi  re- 
gretted that  he  did  not  have  a  son  to  bring  him  such  a 
daughter-in-law. 

He  evidently  wanted  to  cheer  me  up,  for  he  bade 
me  review  in  memory  the  triumphal  march  of  my  joys, — 
my  children,  my  grandchildren,  my  sons  and  daughters-in- 
law,  and  my  great-grandson. 

During  the  last  words  of  Wilhelmi,  we  heard  from  afar,  a 
noise  as  of  the  roaring  sea — a  wave  of  history  came  rolling 
onward. 

Cannon  thundered,  bells  rang,  and  on  came  the  great  pro- 
cession ;  and  when  the  French  flags  were  carried  by  and 
fluttered  in  the  gentle  breeze,  I  felt  that  I  had  seen  the 
world  wing  itself  for  a  new  flight.  - 

From  among  the  South  German  troops,  a  young  officer 
nodded  to  me.  It  was  Julius.  My  grandson  was  among 
the  marching  conquerors. 

The  Emperor  comes,  and  with  him,  all  the  heroes.  The 
Emperor  steps  to  the  statue  of  his  father,  and  the  old  man 
so  greatly  exalted  by  fortune,  now  becomes  an  humble  son, 
and  lays  the  captured  flags  at  the  feet  of  his  father. 


CHAPTER  XII. 

LED  by  Wilhelmi,  I  went  to  the  house  of  our  friends. 
Ikvvarte  stood  in  the  door ;  he  saluted  me  silently. 
I  asked  him  whether  my  family  were  above. 

"  Yes,  sir." 

As  we  go  up  the  stairs,  we  hear,  behind  us,  hasty  footsteps 
and  a  clattering  sabre.  It  is  Julius,  his  helmet  adorned  with 
a  wreath  of  oak  leaves. 

"Grandfather,  have  you  seen  them  ?" 

"Whom?" 

"  Martha  and  Erwin." 

"  Are  they  here,  too  ?  " 

"Julius"  is  called  from  above,  and,  the  next  moment,  he 
is  in  Martha's  arms.  Then  he  embraces  his  father. 

"  Come  in ;  he  sleeps,"  said  Martha.  "  Come  in  all, 
fathers  three." 

We  walked  through  a  glass-covered  entry,  then  across  a 
wide  floor  to  the  quietly-situated  back-building,  where  the 
noise  of  the  street  could  not  penetrate. 

In  the  silent  room,  Julius  knelt  beside  the  cradle.  Gently 
he  raised  the  curtain ;  the  boy  awoke,  and,  for  the  first  time, 
the  eyes  of  father  and  son  met. 

"  Envin,  my  son  !  "  cried  Julius,  and  kissed  the  child,  who 
stared  at  him,  and  tried  to  clutch  his  eyes  with  his  hands. 

Martha,  too,  knelt  beside  the  cradle.  She  laid  her  hand 
on  the  husband's  forehead,  and  said,  "And  at  this  head 
hostile  bullets  were  aimed  !  " 

"  Oh  don't  let  us  give  way  to  our  feelhgs,"  said  Julius, 
rising. 


5o8 


WALDFRIED. 


Martha  took  the  wreath  from  her  husband's  helmet,  and 
wanted  to  place  it  on  my  head.  I  seized  it  and  laid  it  on 
the  cradle  of  my  great-grandson.  After  that,  we  left  the 
young  couple,  and  hunted  up  the  other  returned  wanderers. 
.  Our  hosts  resigned  their  house  to  us,  and  saved  us  from 
all  restraint  by  kindly  keeping  themselves  in  the  back- 
ground. 

Richard  and  Annette,  Ludwig,  Conny,  and  Wolfgang,  by 
turns  clasped  i£e  in  their  arms.  O  how  many  good,  true 
hearts  beat  against  mine  to-day  !  How  many  lives  I  could 
call  my  own  ! 

Richard  was  still  somewhat  pale.  Annette  was  radiant 
with  glorious  beauty,  and  her  modest,  gentle  demeanor  was 
the  more  attractive  because  she  had  the  appearance  of  one 
born  to  command. 

When  the  first  emotions  awakened  by  the  overwhelming 
fulness  of  my  joy  had  subsided,  I  had  a  wonderful  vision.  I 
saw  great  tables  loaded  with  meat  and  drink  and  fra- 
grant flowers,  and  from  the  streets  resounded  cheering  and 
song.  One  of  those  wonderful  visions,  or  phantasms,  as  you 
may  call  it,  that  supplement  our  life  and  withdraw  us  from 
the  actual  world,  seized  me.  The  beaming  faces,  the  bril- 
liant lights  reflected  again  and  again  in  the  mirrors  and 
the  wine-glasses,  the  sumptuous  table,  and  the  lovely  flowers, 
— methought  I  had  seen  them  all  before. — I  felt  as  if  in  the 
midst  of  one  of  those  wonderful,  color-steeped  groups  of 
Paul  Veronese,  and,  like  soft  music,  or  an  apparition  gently 
gliding  through  the  air,  memories  of  Gustava  filled  my 
soul. 

"  You  seem  so  happy,"  said  Annette  ;  and  I  could  only 
tell  her  this  :  "  The  dreams  of  former  days,  and  the  loftiest 
impressions  that  our  souls  have  taken  up  from  art,  are  now 
our  actual  life ;  our  highest  ideal  has  been  attained." 


WALDFRIED. 


509 


Joseph  informed  me  that  the  army  corps  consisting  of  the 
troops  from  our  State,  would  make  its  entry  into  our  capi- 
tal under  the  Crown  Prince,  who  had  commanded  it  during 
the  war,  and  thajt  the  Colonel,  who  was  now  a  General, 
would  take  part  in  the  ceremony.  Bertha  expected  that  we 
would  all  be  with  her  on  that  day  of  honor. 

Richard  told  us  of  his  experiences  while  with  the  French, 
and  we  could  not  help  asking  ourselves  :  "  Shall  we  ever  be 
at  peace  with  these  neighbors  of  ours  ?  " 

"  I  have  learned  to  know  the  French,"  said  Richard,  "  and 
suffered  much  at  their  hands.  The  people  amused  them- 
selves by  insulting  me  while  I  was  being  led  through  the 
streets  ;  I  had  to  march  in  chains  for  a  whole  day  ;  and  still, 
through  all  the  ravings  of  this  sanguine  people,  I  could  see 
its  mighty  soul." 

At  these  words,  Offenheimer  rushed  up  to  Richard,  and, 
embracing  him,  said,  <;  A  wounded  enemy  is  an  enemy  no 
longer,  and  thus  we  have  ceased  to  be  enemies  of  suffering 
France." 

He  begged  Richard  to  tell  him  more,  and  so  he  continued  : 
"  In  spite  of  their  impassioned  feelings,  and  of  the  fact,  utterly 
incomprehensible  to  them,  that  we  were  impolite  enough  not 
to  let  them  whip  us,  there  is  a  real  elevation  of  soul  in  them, 
although  it  is  obscured  by  their  theatrical  phrases.  But  their 
belief  in  themselves  is  something  grand.  They  cling  to  it, 
even  now,  when  they  are  sorely  beaten.  I  am  confident 
that  the  French  will,  in  time,  become  honestly  tolerant,  and 
not  in  the  sham  sense  that  makes  its  professors  say  :  *  You, 
poor  fellow,  have  a  false  belief,  but  I  do  not  attack  it.'  The 
French  have  a  beautiful  faith  in  themselves,  but  they  must 
acquire  faith  in  others,  and  not  consider  themselves  the 
whole  of  humanity." 

Nations  have  much  the  same  ideas  as  individuals.      After 


510  WALDFRIED. 

a  silent  combat,  they  can  scarcely  believe  that  it  arose  from 
a  trifling  cause,  and  now  the  French  will  not  remember  what 
a  trivial  pretext  they  had  for  this  war. 

The  Chinese  self-sufficiency  of  the  French,  who  believed 
themselves  to  be  the  sole  representatives  of  civilization,  is 
now  broken  down.  Their  morbid  desire  for  revenge  can 
only  be  temporary.  The  people,  deeply  wounded  in  its  van 
ity,  and  swindled  out  of  its  love  of  truth  by  sycophantic 
word-mongers,  will  come  to  reason. 

Wilhelmi  based  great  hopes  on  the  projected  university  of 
Strasburg.  It  was  to  form  an  intellectual  bond  of  union. 
With  great  warmth  of  feeling,  he  demonstrated  that  it  was 
typical  of  the  real  character  of  our  people,  that,  first  of  all, 
an  institution  of  learning  was  established  in  the  newly  recov- 
ered province. 

Then  Ludwig  rose,  and  with  an  enthusiasm  in  which  all 
the  fervor  of  his  youth  broke  forth,  again  said  :  "  And  some- 
thing more  is  in  store  for  us,  and,  for  that  reason,  I 
wish  to  remain  an  American  citizen.  You,  Wilhelmi,  and 
I  have  learned  to  know  America.  We  love  our  old  home, 
but  we  also  love  the  New  World,  which  is  the  land  to  initiate 
great  thoughts,  the  land  in  which  humanity,  through  untram- 
melled liberty,  cannot  but  reach  great  results.  It  is  pitiful 
and,  at  the  same  time,  sad,  that  the  American  who  has 
made  money,  and  wishes  to  do  something  for  the  public 
good,  knows  of  nothing  better  than  to  build  a  church. 

"My  idea — and  I  have  distinguished  friends  who  agree  with 
me — is  to  establish,  as  our  celebration  of  the  centennial  of 
American  independence,  a  German  University  in  America; 
an  International  High-School.  I  need  not  point  out  to 
you,  how  great  a  significance  such  an  institution  would  pos- 
sess for  the  New  World,  as  well  as  for  the  Old.  After 
our  German  students  have  studied  for  a  year  at  the  American 


WALDFRIED.i  $u 

Athens,  how  much  wider  their  range  of  vision  will  be,  and 
how  much  greater  their  knowledge  of  the  world !  In  this 
way,  a  cable  of  quite  a  different  kind  would  be  laid;  an 
intellectual  electric  current,  binding  the  Old  World  to  the 
New." 

Richard  took  Ludwig's  hand,  and  congratulated  him  on 
having  conceived  this  grand  idea. 

"Thus  should  it  be,"  he  cried;  "let  Germany  be  fully 
and  entirely  its  own,  and  then  send  the  messengers  of  its  in- 
tellectual life  to  all  the  world.  The  ancients  carried  their 
gods  of  marble  and  bronze,  wherever  they  went ;  we  carry 
divine  thoughts  over  the  whole  inhabited  globe." 

Offenheimer  whispered  something  to  Richard,  who  pressed 
his  hand  gratefully. 

I  sat  there  quietly  and  felt  unutterably  happy,  because  my 
children  possessed  new  ideals  so  different  from  our  own. 
Their  clear,  organizing  minds  stretched  into  the  far  distance, 
and  their  schemes  embraced  the  welfare  of  all  mankind. 

When  in  Strasburg,  I  felt  deeply  pained  that  such  men 
as  Luclwig  and  Wilhelmi  should  be  driven  into  exile.  Not 
always  does  our  life  give  an  answer  to  such  questions.  I  re- 
ceived one  now. 

We  were  interrupted  by  Ikwarte,  who  begged  to  be  ex- 
cused. He  had  noticed  his  brother  among  the  marching 
soldiers.  He  was  sergeant  and  had  received  the  Iron  Cross ; 
he  had  recognized  him,  and  called  out  to  him  from  the  pro- 
cession. Ikwarte  now  asked  permission  to  go  and  seek 
his  brother. 

Ludvvig  granted  it  of  course.  We  were  all  pleased  with 
Ikwarte's  firm  sense  of  duty,  to  which  even  his  brotherly 
love  had  to  yield. 

As  Ikwarte  was  leaving  the  room,  Julius  entered  with  his 
wife.  She  carried  my  great-grandson  on  her  arm. 


512 


WALDFRIED. 


For  a  while,  every  one  turned  to  them.  Then  Ludwig 
began : 

"It  is  well  that  you  have  come,  Julius!  We  are  here 
among  friends ;  are  you  ready  to  answer  a  question  regard- 
ing your  future?  " 

In  a  quiet  tone,  Julius  answered,  he  would  first  have  to 
know  what  it  was  all  about. 

Smiling,  Ludwig  said  :  "  Allow  me  to  tell  you  that  I  am 
a  Colonel." 

Julius  bowed,  and  Ludwig  continued  :  "  How  grand  it 
was  that  the  American  officers,  at  the  end  of  their  war,  re- 
turned to  civil  life,  while  here  in  Germany  a  standing  army 
draws  our  best  energies  away  from  productive  labor." 

Quietly  but  not  without  confidence,  Julius  replied:  "It 
seems  to  me  that  Uncle  Ludwig  is  still  thinking  of  the  revo- 
lutionary times,  of  the  long  forgotten  stone  age  of  Ger- 
man history.  There  is  no  separation  now  between  sol- 
dier and  citizen,  and  it  is  very  questionable  whether  any  one 
has  the  right  to  call  us  soldiers  unproductive  laborers.  Our 
work  creates  a  race  of  men  who  give  firmness  and  character 
to  our  political  life.  What  the  schools  are  unable  to  finish, 
we  perfect.  To  cultivate  the  great  forest  of  men,  is  a  higher 
aim  than  to  reclaim  a  forest  of  trees." 

"  Oh,"  interrupted  Wolfgang,  and  Julius  turned  to  him 
and  said  :  "  Dear  Wolfgang,  I  do  not  think  meanly  of  that 
either ;  it  is  also  a  part  of  the  work  that  society  has  before  it. 
But  each  one  must  choose  his  post  and  guard  it  faithfully."- 

Ludwig  insisted  to  the  contrary,  and  squarely  put  it  to 
Julius  that  he  should  leave  the  army,  and  take  charge  of 
his  grandfather's  estate.  He  could,  if  his  country  called  him, 
always  return  to  his  duty.  He  hinted,  and  not  very  del: 
cately,  that  one  should  not  allow  one's  self  to  be  seduced  by 
the  outward  glitter  of  the  soldier's  life. 


WALDFRIED. 

Without  any  irritation,  but  in  determined  language,  Julius 
declared  that  he  fully  recognized  how  great  a  spectacle  it 
was  to  see  a  victorious  army  return  home  in  triumph,  and 
lay  down  its  arms ;  that  it  would  have  been  desirable  that 
the  conclusion  of  peace  should  produce  the  disarmament  of 
Europe.  Such  a  disarmament,  however,  is  only  possible  in 
America,  where  there  is  but  one  powerful  nation.  In  con- 
clusion, he  eulogized  the  high  mission  of  the  soldier's  life  as 
a  school  for  men. 

Ludwig  rose  and  said :  "  Here  is  my  hand ;  I  am  con- 
verted. Father,  I  have  now  decided.  I  shall  accept  the 
estate." 

I  do  not  know  how  it  came  to  pass,  but  Martha  had  laid 
my  great-grandson  in  my  arms,  and  when  the  boy  raised  his 
eyes  to  mine,  I  felt  as  if  I  was  looking  forward  into  the 
future. 

You,  my  child,  rested  beside  a  mother's  heart  during 
the  battles ;  you  slept  during  the  triumphant  march,  and 
now,  around  you,  great  words  and  thoughts  wander  forth 
into  the  world.  When,  at  some  future  time,  you  shall  learn 
how  your  father  fought  and  suffered  for  home  and  country, 
may  it  sound  to  you  like  a  fable  from  the  old,  dark  days, 
that,  long  ago,  we  had  to  fight  the  monsters  who  despised  the 
people.  Stand  firm  and  pure  in  the  new  life  of  nations, 
amongst  whom  the  battle  will  only  be  for  the  possession  of 
the  noblest  treasures  of  the  intellectual  world. 

AT  HOME,  July  22. 

I  did  not  find  my  comrade  Rothfuss.  He  died  full  of  hap- 
piness and  peace.  On  the  last  morning,  he  said  to  Jo- 
hanna :  "  The  German  Empire  is  not  the  right  thing  after  all. 
One  must  die  in  it,  just  as  before.  Our  Emperor  should 
order  a  different  state  of  things,  but  never  mind.  '  He  who 
33 


514  WALDFRIED. 

is  wet  to  the  skin,  need  not  dread  the  rain.'  If  I  could  only 
lie  down  in  my  grave  for  my  master,  as  I  once  had  myself 
locked  up  for  Ludwig." 

My  grandson  the  vicar,  who  is  chaplain  at  the  neighbor- 
ing fortress,  was  with  him  in  his  last  hours. 

Ludwig  has  taken  the  family  estate  for  his  son  Wolfgang ; 
not,  as  is  customary,  at  the  family  valuation,  but  at  its  full 
market  value. 

I  shall  resign  my  post. 

So  far,  the  memoirs  up  to  the  evening  before  the  anni- 
versary of  Gustava's  death.  They  were  written  in  the  after- 
noon, with  a  firm  hand.  After  that,  he  walked  out  into  the 
forest.  Carl,  who  was  in  the  fields,  saw  him  drinking  from 
the  Gustava  fountain,  and  rejoiced  to  see  the  master* walk- 
ing so  sturdily. 

He  was  found  in  the  woods  he  had  planted,  beneath  a 
white  pine  tree,  stretched  out  in  death.  His  face  was 
toward  the  earth,  and  rested  on  the  wild  thyme. 

The  second  tablet  of  the  grave-stone  bears  the  following 
inscription : 

HERE  RESTS, 

IN  THE  SOIL  OF  OUR  UNITED  COUNTRY, 

HEINRICH  WALDFRIED, 

BORN  MAY  THE  IOTH,  1800 ; 

DIED  JULY  THE  220,  1871. 


THE    END. 


3  - 


